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HISTORICAL SKETCH 



OF THE 



TOWN OF HOPKINTON, 



FHOM irsr T4> 18T6, 



Comprising a Period of One Hundred and Nineteen Years. 



PREPARED BY 



REV. S. S. GRISWOLD, 



AND 



DELIVERED JULY 4TE, 1876. 



1877. 

WOOD RIVER ADVERTISER PRESS, 

HOPE VALLEY, R. I. 



S^( ^y^c>-c)g^ G^^/;t;>f ^y^^.gx2,gv^ :)<^^ 




1 "7 S "7 



/o 7 



HISTORICAL SKETCH 



OF THE 



TOWN OF HOPKINTON, 



From 17o7 to 187G, Coniprising a Perio<l of 111) years. 



rREPAREIVBY 



REV. S. S. GRISWOLD, 



AND 



DELIVERED JULY JfTH, 1876, 



PKR VOTE OF THE TOWN COUNCIL, 



1 3 "7 e 




HOPE VALLEY, R. T. : 
L. W. A. COLE, JOB PRINTER, 

18T7. 



f 

3.M, 



Crlrlir;itioii of tljr Cciitrnnial ^^nnibcrscirn 

OF THE FOURTH OF JULY. 



PUBLIC B.ESOLUTIOJV 

PASSED BV CONGRESS AND APPROVED BV THE PRESIDENT, 

March 13th, 187(5. 

Joint Resolution on the Celebration of the Centennial in 
the several Counties or Towns. 

Be it Kesolvetl, by the Senate and House of Representatives 
of the United States of America in Congress assembled : 

That it be, and is hereby recommended by the Senate and 
House of Representatives to the people of the several States, that 
they assemble in their several counties and towns on the approaching 
Centennial anniversary of our National Independence, and that 
they cause to have delivered on such day an historical sketch of 
said county or town from its formation ; and that a copy of said 
sketch may be filed in print or maunscript, in the Clerk's office 
of said county or town, and an additional copy in print or manu- 
script be filed in the office of the Librarian of Congress, to the 
intent that a complete record may there be obtained of the progress 
or our institutions during the first Centennial of their existence. 



|)rc5iticnt*s |]rocl;im;itiou. 

Bij the President of the United Stales. 

A PROCLAMATIOX, 



Whereas?. A joint resolution of the Sei at3 an I House of Rep- 
resentatives of the United States was duly approved on the 13th 
day of Mai'ch last, -which resolution is as follows : 

"Be it resolved by the Senate and House of Representatives of 
the United States of America in Conarress assembled, that it be 
and is hereby recommended by the Stnate an 1 the House of Repre- 
sentatives to the people of the several States that they assemble 
in their sevei'al counties or towns on the api:)roaching centennial 
anniversary of our National Independence, and that they cause to 
have delivered on such day an historical sketch of said county or 
^own from its formation, and that a copy of said sketch may be 
filed, in print or manuscript, in the clerk's office of said county, 
and an additional copy in print or manuscript be filed in the office 
of the Librarian ot Congress, to the intent tliat a complete record 
may thus be obtained of the progress of our institutions during 
the first centennial of their existence ;" and 

Whereas, It is deemed proper that such recommendation 
be brought to the notice and knowledge of the people of the 
United States, I 

Now^ therefore, I, Ulysses S. Grant, President of the United 
States, do hereby declare and make known the same, in the hope 
that the object of such resohition may meet the approval of the 
people of the United States, and that proper steps may be taken to 
carry the same into affect. 

Given under my hand, at the city of Washington, the 2oth day of 
May, in the year of our Lord 1876, and of the independence of 
the United States the one hnndreth. 

By the President, U. S. GRANT. 

Hamilton Fish, Secretary of State. 



State of lljobf Islanb h. 



Ill General Assembly, Jaimaiy Session, A. I). IS7G. 



JOINT RE SOL Uri OX 



ON THE 



{Jdebrativn of tlje Cenfe/inial 

Ili THE SEVERAL CITIES AND TOWNS. 

Resolved, The House of Representatives concurriuoi; tliei*eiii, 
tliat iu accordance with the recommendation of the National Con- 
gress, the Governor he requested to invite the people of the several 
cities and towns of the State to assemble in their several localities 
on the approaching Centennial Anniversary of our National Inde- 
pendence, and cause to have delivered on that day an historical 
sketch of said town or city from its formation, and to have one 
copy of said sketch, in print or in manuscript, filed in the clerk's 
office of said town or city, one copy in the office of the Secretary 
of State, and one copy in the office of the Librarian of Congress, 
to the intent that a complete record may thus be obtained of 
the progress of our institutions during the First Centennial of 
their existence ; and that the Governor be requested to commu- 
nicate the invitation forthwith to the several Town and City Coun- 
cils in the State. 

I certify the foregoing to be a true copy of a resolution passed 
by the General Assembly of the State aforesaid, on the 20th 
day of April, A. D. 1876. 

/ ^'^^"^ \ Witness my hand and Seal of the State, 

( ^' I this 27th day of April, A. D. 1876. 

JOSHUA M. ADDEMAN, 

Secretary of State. 



S^tatr of illjok ^s\M, 

EXECUTIVE DEPARTMEJ^T, 

Providence, April 27t1i, 1876. 

To the Honorable Town Council of Jlopkinton, 

Gentlemen : 

I have the honor herewith to enclose a duly certified copy of 
a Resolution passed by the General Assembly at its recent Session, 
requesting me to invite the people of the several towns and cities 
of the State, to assemble in their several localities on the approach- 
ing Centennial Anniversary of our National Independence, and 
cause to have delivered on such day an historical sketch of said 

town or city from its formation. 

By pur.-5uing the course suggested by the General Assembly, 
the people of the State will derive an amount of information which 
will be invaluable to the present generation, as showing the won- 
derful progress of the several towns and cities since their forma- 
tion. 

It will also be of great value to future generations when the 
materials for such sketches now accessible will have been lost or 
destroyed by accident, or become more or less effaced and illegible 
from time. 

Therefore in pursuance of the request of the General As- 
sembly I respectfully and earnestly, through yon, invite the 
people of your town to carry out the contemplated celebration on 
the 4th day of July next. 

HENRY LIPPITT, Governor. 



itatc of l()obc Isduib i't. 



COUNTY OF WASHINGTON, sc. 

At a meeting of tlie Town Council of Hopkinton, June otli, 
A. D. 1876, at the Town Hall. 

Voted, That the Rev. S. S. Griswold be and is hereby invited 
to write an historical sketch of this town agreeable to Joint Reso- 
lution of Congress of the United States, and Joint Resolution of 
the General Assembly of this State. 

E. R. ALLEN, Town Clerk. 

STATE OF RHODE ISLAND, &c., | 
County of Washington, sc. ) 

At a meeting of the Town Council of Hopkinton this twelfth 
day of June, A. D. 1876, at Town Hall, the following Resohition is 
presented and read: 

Voted, That the same be and it is hereby adopted: 
Resolved, That Samuel N. Richmond, William L. Clarke, 
E. P. Clark, M. D. and John D. Kenyon, M. D., be a committee to 
make arrangements for a meeting of the inhabitants of this town 
on the 4th day of July A. D. 1876, or some other day if in their 
judgment it is better for the purpose of hearing the history of this 
town (being now one hundred and seventeen years old,) now being 
written by Rev. S. S. Griswold — to make any alterations if found 
necessary before it shall be received in this Town, State or Nation, 
and that they be authorized to draw on the Treasurer of this Town 
for money necessary to carry out said plan, in a sum not exceed- 
ing three hundred dollars, ($300). 

E. R. ALLEN, Town Clerk. 



Hopkinton, June loth, 1876. 
To the Honorable Town Council of Hopkinton, 
Gentlemen : 

I have the honor to acknowledge the receipt of your vote, 
under date of June 5th, inviting me to write an historical sketch 
of this town. In reply, I wish a more competent person had been 
invited, one of longer acquaintance, by residence, with the history 
of the town, and in possession of more ample means by which the 
requisite knowledge might be attained, I also wish that a sufficient 
length of time could have been given to have secured a more thor- 
ough history than the now very limited time will admit. 

But, waving further apology I hereby accept your invitation 
and will endeavor to perform its duties to the best of my ability, 
and the facilities of time and means at my command. 

Respectfully, 

S. S. GRISWOLD. 



PREFACE. 

In order to give a full history of any country, or place, there 
must be some means by which the historian can obtain the 
necessary information. These sources may be legendary, tradi- 
tional, oral or written. The town of Hopkinton did not supply ei- 
ther of the above facilities, but to limited extent, especially during 
its first settlement. Hence, that portion of its history cannot be 
written out in detail. 

In preparing the following sketch, I have had under contri- 
bution all avalable means, and plundered from all such resources, 
ad libitum et tandem without stopping to accredit where due. 

I however, wish to express my appreciation of the assistance 
rendered me by the Town Council, the Committee of Arrangements, 
and the citizens generally, one and all, for aid in preparing the 
following sketch, hoping that imperfect as it is, it may be read, 
especially by the youth, with pleasure and profit S. 8. G. 



IIISTOIIICAL SKETCH. 



STATE AND TuW.N. 

'J\) (lav is tlic (\'MitL'miial aiinivi'ivary, l>irtlitlay ot' this Xa- 
tioH. One liuiKlrcd years aii'o to <lay it pidclaimcl itscU' 
I'lvt' and iiuU'j)eii(]ent, ami, relyini;- upon iIk' aid of Almi^'lity 
(iod, and the justice of its cause it uurnrlecl a national bauuci" 
pledii-in£>" an assurance to the nations of the world its capa- 
bility to maintain its new born nationality. Fi<»ni that day 
to this -Itli of July has ever lieen ol)s<'r\-e<l in eoninieniora- 
tion of the Nation's Independence, hut never Ix'fore was tin; 
d.ay more pregnant with historic events than to day. Never 
before were the resources of tlie nati<Mi ujore dev(doped. 
To day the <4Tand Exposition at Piiiladelphia is the ('cntn; 
of the Avorlds dev(dopment in all that ])ertains to true civil- 
ization and nol)ility of manhood. And to make the day 
more impressively commemorative, the Legislatures of the 
several States, the National Congress and tlie proclamation 
of the President have recommended that liistorical addresses 
he prepared and delivered in every county and town of 
these United States. 

"History," says I3r. Arnold "is the l»iogra}>liy of a socie- 
ty." — "The society may he a family, a coiporati(m, a State, 
2 ' ' 



10 HISTOKY OF HOPKINTON. 

several States united hy a coimiion jxdiey, religion, race, or 
eivilization, or it may he the Avliole world; and, in its broad- 
est and absolnte nieaning-, history is the ])iograpliy of man- 
kind, l^nt of all societies, tlie State is that whicli acts most 
]>r(»minently and constantly in directing* Imman affairs. All 
other social forces, religions, commercial, or literary, and all 
ideaSj arts, sciences, and nsages. are easily considered as 
concentring in it; and history is, therefore, most fre(|nently 
conceived with reference to the States — to the acts of gov- 
ernments, and the ac^ts that influence governments — and 
comprehen<ls the biographies of nations." 

^'It is not without reason," says Kollin "that history has 
always been consid(?red as the light of ages, the depository 
of events, the faithful evidence of truth, the source of pru- 
dence and good counsel, and the rule of conduct and man- 
ners. Confined without it to the bounds of the age and 
country wherein we live, and shut up within the narrow cir- 
cle of such branches of knowledge as are peculiar to ns, and 
the limits of our own private^ reflections, we continue in a 
kind of infancy, which leaves ns strangers to the rest of the 
world, and profoundly ignorant of all that has precedcul, or 
<>ven now surrounds ns. — And yet all we are capable of 
knowing must be limited to this imperceptible point, unless 
we call in the study of historv to our assistance, which 
opens to ns every age and every country, keeps up a corre- 
spondence between us and the great men of antiquity, sets 
all their actions, all their achievements, virtues and faults 
before onr eyes; and, by the pruden! reflections it either 
presents, or gives us an op})ortunity of making, soon teaches 
ns to 1)0 wise before our time, and is in a manner far superi- 
or to all the lessons of the great masters. — It is history 
which fixes the seal of immortality of actions truly great, 
and sets a mark of infamy on vices wdiicli no after age can 
ever obliterate. — Thus history, when it is well taught be- 



HISTORY OF HOPKTNTOX. 11 

comes {I school of morality for all mankind. 

It condemns vice, tlirows off the mask from ftilse virtnes, 
lays open pojuilar errors and jnejndices, dispels tlie delusive 
charms of riches, and all the vain [R>mp which dazzk's the 
imni»i nation, and shews, by a thousand examples, that are 
more availing than all reasonings whatsoever, that nothing 
is great and commendahle but honor ami probity." The 
foregoing exordium is as just as it is eloquent — as op]K)site 
as it is comjdete. — In the galaxy of States, especially of 
Xew England. IMiode Island has ever shone with undimin- 
ished lustr*'. Lik<' liethleheni Ephratah, though little 
among the thousands of Juilali, yet, out of her came forth 
the ruler: s(> Ivhoda. though she be small among the States, 
vet, from her, has come forth the Pioneer, a Ruler in civil 
and religions liberty, — such a Teacher as even the new 
world was not then |»rej»are(l to appreciate. 

Rhode Island was first settled in WM). by Roger Will- 
iams an exile from ^lassachsetts. The edict oi" banishment 
bears date of Se})tend»er .3rd 1(j35 and reads as follow^ — 
Whereas Mr. Roger AVilliams, one of the elders of the 
church in Salem, hath broached an<l dyvulge<l dyvers news 
and dangerous opinions, against the authorities of magis- 
trates, as also writ letters of defainati(U), both of the magis- 
trates and churches here, and that l>efore any conviction, 
and yet uiaintaineth the same without retraction, it is there- 
fore ordered, that the said ^Ir. Williams shall (h'part out of 
this jurisdiccion within six weeks next ensuing, M'hich, if he 
neglect to perform, it shall be lawful for the Governor, and 
two of the magistrates, to send him to some place out of this 
jurisdiccion, not to return any more without license from the 
C'ourt. 

Up«)n the issuing of this bull, excommunicate by the 
high Court of ]\[assachusetts. Mr. Williams fled first to 8ee- 
konk now Rehoboth, in IMy mouth colony: — bat being 



12 IILSTOHY OF HOPKIXTOX, 

warned l)y (}()veriior Winslow that be had •'fallen into the 
edge of his bound," ^Ir. Williams, after ''being- sorely 
tossed for fourteen weeks in a bitter winter season/' between 
]*lyniouth and Seekonk, left Seekonk, on aeeount of the 
warning of the (Tovernor, and, exchanging salutations with 
the Indians embarked in a eanoe, and sailed around Fox 
Point u]) 1^'ovidenee river, where he hindecl in the*month of 
May or June 1G36. In March 1637 Sachems ( 'annoniciis 
and Miantonomi owners of the land upon which AVillianis 
nettled conveyed to him by deed the following desL'ribed 
tract of land as \)vv copy of said deed as follows. 

At Nanhiii'a'unsick the 2i of tirvst month, commonlv called 
March, in ye second yeare of our plantation or planting, at 
Moosluiusick or Providence. 

Memorandum, that we Cannonicus and Miantonomi, the 
two chief Sai'hems of Xanhiggansick, having two years since 
sold nnto IJoger Williams, ye lands and meadowes, upon 
the two IVesh rivers, called JMooshansick and Wanas«]uatuck- 
it, doe nowe by these presents, establish and confirm ye 
bounds of these lands, from ye rivers and fields, Pautuckcpit 
ye great hill of Nolqnonckanitt, on ye northwest and the town 
of Monsha])Oii*ue on ve west. 

As also in consideration of the many kindnesses and ser- 
vices, he hath continnally done for ns, both with our friends, 
at Massachusetts, as also at Quinickicutt and Apaum of Ply- 
mouth, we doe freely give, nnto liim all the land from those 
rivers reaching to Pawtnxet river; as also the grass and 
meadowes npon ye said Pawtiixet river. 

In witness whereof we have hereunto set our hands. 

Ye mark of (a bow and arrow) Canonicus. 
Ye mark of (an arrow)Miantunnomi. 
In Ye presence of 

The mark x Sotaash. 

The mark x Assotemeneits. 



HISTORY OF IIOI'KINTOX. 13 

Huviug- thus rc'feiTcd as concisely as ])ossil)lc to tlie origi- 
nal settlement of the State Ly way of introduction I now- 
pass to the more direct consideration of the subject assigned 
!ue, viz. The History of tlie town of Ilopkinton. 

l*rior to the year 17.37 the town of Ilopkinton was a C(ni- 
stituent part of Westei'ly. Hence its history to that date 
will be found in connection with the history of that town; 
therefore it may be j>roper in this connection briefly to no- 
tice the settlement of Westerly. 

In the year 1701 a company of men })urchased (►f the col- 
ony of Iviiode Island five thousand and three hundred acres 
of land situated in what are now the towns of Westerly, 
Charlestown, IMchmond, and Ilopkinton. The Indian 
name for this tract of land was .Mistpiamucuck wliich after- 
wards became Musquamacott. 

Tlie following taken from the rec(n'ds of the colony of 
liiiode Island and Providence J^lantations, is the grant of the 
Courtj of date 1(369. "Jiee it therefore enacted by this 
Assembly, and by the autliority thereof that the said 
iidiabiiants of ^Iiisipiamacott being seated, adjoyning to 
Pawcatuck, alais Narragansett or Norrogansitt river on the 
west part, and boundary of this Collony, and within that 
part thereof knowne bv the name of the Kino-'s Province 
aforesaid, to wit : ]Mr. John Crandall, Mi'. Tobias Sanders, 
and all such others as now are or hereafter shall be lei>-allv 
admitted as freemen and inhabitants in the said place called 
Musquamacott, &c., shall be knowne and called by the name 
of AYesterly; and shall be reputed find deemed the fifth 
towne of this Collony, and shall have, use, and erijoy all 
such privilidges, and exercise all such methods and formes 
for the well ordering their town affairs as any other town in 
this Collony may use and exercise; and they shall have 
liberty to elect and send two Deputyes, to sitt and act in the 
General Assemblys of this Collony from time to time, and 



14 HISTORY OF HOPKINTON. 



are enjoined to choose and send to the General Conrt of 
I'riallsj one grand jury rnan^ and one for the jury of triaLs 
from time to time ; and further this Assenildy^ for tlieir, the 
said peoples better governing themselves^ and sncli as come 
among them, and nntill his Majestyes pleasure he farther 
knowne, doc recommend the care and speciall regard or 
ordering and appoynting Conservattors of the peace among 
them tmto the Governor, Deputye Governor and Assistants 
of this Collony, as was hy the Governor and Council 1 hegan 
in the year 1665, and hath been since continued, desiring it 
may he still ordered and by tlie said justices renewed, and 
as occasion requires compleated and established, as they shall 
see meett; even to erecting Courts for trial of snch small 
matters as other particular Ccmrts in this Collony may doe in 
that respect." 

In 16S5 the King's Court of Comiiiissioners attempt<'d to 
subvert the colonies, annul their cliarters, and in order to 
consummate their act of audacity changed the name of 
Westerly to Haversham. But J^ie c(dony of Musquamacott 
hurled back defiantly in tlie face of those usnrpers, and in due 
process of time trod tlie name of Haversham under their feet 
and inscribed in letters ol blood, the name of Westerly on 
their banners of liberty. 

In 1738 the town of Westerly was divided into two 
townships, Charlestown and Westerly. The town ol' llich- 
mond was afterw ards set off from Charlestown. 

In 1757 the northern portion of the town of Westerly was 
set off and established as the town of Hopkinton in accord- 
ance with the provisions in the following act of the General 
Assembly held at Providence the 14th day of March, 1757. 

''An Act for dividing the town of Westerly, and thereof 
making two distinct townships; one, to retain the name of 
Westerly, and the other to be designated and known by the 
name of Hopkinton. 



HISTORY OF HOPKINTOX. 15 

Whereas a great iiunil»er of the inhabitants of the 
northern part »»f the town of AVesterly, preferred a petition, 
and represented unto this Assembly, tliat the said town being 
iipwanls of twenty n»iles in length, they are mueh aggrieved 
by reason many of tliem are obliged to travel some fifteen 
or sixteen miles, to get an instrument recorded; others, 
eighteen or twenty miles, when business calls them before 
the Town Council, or to attend at a Court of Justices, the 
greater part of the public business being at this day transacted 
and done in the southern parts of said town; and thereupon 
prayed tliat the same may be divided; nature having cut it 
into two jiarts, by the large river, calle<l and known by the 
name of Pawcatuck; and that they may be entitled to efpial 
privileges with the other towns in this colony; on considera- 
tion whereof: — 

Be it enacted by this General Assembly, and by the 
authority thereof it is enacted, that the said town of Westerly 
be, and the same is hereby, made and divided into two 
distinct and separate towns|b and that such part thereof, as 
lieth to the southward of the aforesaid Pawcatuck river, shall 
still be, and remain a town, holding its ancient name of 
Westerlv ; and all the lands Iving" to the northward of said 
river, shall also be, and hereby is erected into and made a 
town, to he distinguished, called and known by the name of 
Ho]ikinton: and the inhabitants thereof shall have, hold and 
enjoy all and singular, the liberties, privileges and immunities 
that the other towns in this colony are entitled to; New 
Shoreham and Jamestown excepted. 

And be it further enacted by the authority aforesaid, that 
the money due unto the town of Westerly, aforesaid, for the 
Cedar Swamp, shall be legally deemed, both principal and 
interest, unto those that live on the south side of the aforesaid 
Pawcatuck river ; and they, in return, shall wholly and solely 
be at the expense of defending said swamp ; and the town of 



16 HISTORY OF lT,:)PKIXr()N'. 

Hopkinton shall not bo subject to any costs and charges on 
that account; tliat all tlie town debts (except such as may 
have lately accrued on account of the swamp,) shall be 
equalh^ paid by the towns of Westerly and Hopkinton ; and 
all such monies as were due to what, before this act, was 
the town of Westerly, shall b(^ a})plied towards paying- 
off said town's debts, except sucli as are due on account of 
the swamp. 

And be it further enacted by tlie riutliority aforesaid, 
that all and every of the justices of the peace, that wen; 
chosen and appointed such for tlie town of Westerly, and 
who live i)i that ])art tliereof, that is now made Hopkinton, 
be, and they liereby are, continued in tlieir otHces, witli i'ull 
power and ample anthoiity, in ev(My res})ect as they had. 
in consequence of their being ciioseJi into and commission- 
ated i'oY said office ; and that the eldest of them issue his 
warrant to call the freenicn ol" said town of Hopkinton to 
meet together at some convenient ]>lace witliin the same, 
in order to choose and apj)oint officers necessary for managing 
and ccmducting the prudential affairs of said town. 

Pursuant to the above Act of Incorporation, the freemen 
of said town v;ere convened at the dwelling house of Joshua 
C'larke, on the Ith day (tf A[)ril 1757, for the purpose of 
choosing and appointing officers necessary for managing and 
(•on<luctini»' the prudential affiiirs of the new town of 
Hopkinton. 

The names of seventy Freemen living on the north 
side of l*auguituck River, were transferred from the 
town records of Westerly, to be entered on the about to 
be records of the new town — Hopkinton. These seventy 
Freemen were legalized voters (having taken the oath 
against bribery and corruption in Westerly) and they 
constituted the first Town meeting of this town. 

Their names are as follows: — 



HISTORY OF HOPKIXTOX, 



17 



George Babcock, 
Hubbard Burdick, 
John Maxson, 
Nathan Burdick, y 
Samuel Hill, 
John Lewis, 
Hezekiah Collins, 
John McCoon, Jun., 
Edward Wells, Jun., 
John Maxson, 
Jose ph Witter , 
Edward Robinson, 
John Wi Ue r, Ju n., 
Josiah Hill. Jun., 
Samuel Maxson, 
.lohn Burdick, \/ 



Oliver Babcock, Benjamin Randal, 

Joshua Clark, Daniel McCoon, 

John Lewis, Thomas Potter, 

Thomas W^ells, Jun., Peter Crandal, 

George Thurston, Joseph Lawton, 

John Hall, Elisha Lewis, 

John Hall, Jun., Thomas AVells, 

Zaccheus Reynolds, Edward Wells, 

Ezekiel Burdick, ^ Joseph Reynolds, 



William Burdick, 
Hubbard Burdick, 
Benjamin Hall, 
Jedediah Davis, 
John Hill, 
Parsaval Allen, 
Zaccheus Pooler, 



Daniel McCoon, Jun., Samuel Brand, 



.Jonathan Wells, 
John Weaver, 
(Christopher Willbor, 
Nathan McCoon, 
Timothy Porter, 
George Potter, 



Hubbard Burdick, Capt 
Thomas Foster, 
John Cottrell, 
Roger White, 
Ebenezer Burdick, 
Ebenezer Hill, 
William Hadfall. 
Benjamin Barber, 
Peter Kiny on, 
Ezekiel Hall, 
Daniel Butler, 
Samuel Button, Jun., 
Simeon Perry, 
John Larkin, Jun., 



John Robinson, 
Joshua Lanphere, 
William Maxson, 
Samuel Larkin, 
Elisha McCoon, 
David Hall, 
Benjamin Willbor. 

The above named Freemen were tlie honored civil i'ound- 
ers of this town. 

The following- taken from the first Record Book of the 
town, shows the doing's of the first town meeting'. 

At a town meeting held in Hopkinton this fourth day of 
April in the thirtieth year of his Majesties reign George ye 
Second King of Great Brittain Annoque Dofuini , 1757. 

At the dwelling house of Joshua Clarke in persuance to 
an Act of the General Assembly of the Colony of Rhode 
Island. 

Voted, that Mr. George Babcock be Moderator of this 
town meeting. 

Voted, that Simeon Perrv be Town Clerk and is ena-ao-ed. 
3 



18 HISTORY OF HOPKINTOX. 

Voted, that the men whose names are next after written 
be admitted Freemen of this town and are allowed to give 
their votes for town officers who liave talven tlie oatli against 
the bril)ery and corrn|»tion prescribed )»y law (viz.) Samuel 
Brown, Dan Bowen, Nathaniel AVells, AValter Worden, 
William Thurston, Josej)h Wells, Joseph McCoon, Elnathan 
Wells, Benjamin Wilbour, Cyrus Button, Jonathan l^ank- 
ford, John Brown Jun. 

Voted, that Cap'n Jolm ]Maxson be 1st; Mr. George Bab- 
cock, 2d; Esq. Daniel McCoon, 3d; Cap'n Zaccheus lley- 
nolds, 4th; Mr. Hezekiah Collins, oth; and Simeon Peny, 
the 6th; Town Councihnen, all engaged. 

Voted, that 3Iaj. Joshua Clarke be Town Treasurer, en- 
gaged. 

Voted, that Mr. Nathan Burdick be Town Sargent, en- 
gaged. 

Voted, that Daniel McCoon Jun. & Ebenezer Burdick be 
the Constables, engaged. 

Voted, that Hezekiah Collins & Edward Robinson be 
chosen Oversears of the poor and are engaged. 

Voted, that John Maxson Jun. Joshua Clarke and Law- 
ton Palmer be Ratemaker, all engaged. 

Voted, that Mr. Edward Wells be Sealer of Weights and 
Measures, Packer, &c. and is engaged. 

Voted, that Cap'n John Maxson, Esq. Daniel McCoon, 
and Benj. Willbour be Viewers of freehold Estates and all 
enffacfed but Willbour. 

Voted, that Mr. Nathan Burdick, Mr. John Burdick, Mr. 
William Maxson, Mr. Joshua Lanphere, Mr. John Weaver, 
and Mr. William Burdick, be chosc^n Supervisors of Highway 
and fence Viewers and all engaged, but William Burdick. 

Voted, that Mr. Benjamin Barber be Pound Keeper and 
engaged. 

Voted, that John Maxson Jun. and Simeon Perry be sur- 



HISTORY OF HOPKIXTOX. 19 

veyors, and are ong'aged. 

Voted, that Edward AVells and Saninel Maxson be ehos- 
en Viewers of luniberj only Wells is engaged, ]Maxson not 
encaffed. 

Voted, tliat tlie next town meeting j^liall V)e held at the 
dwelling honse ot" Jedediah Davises. V 

Voted, that Mr. (ieorge I^aheoek, Mr. Joshna Clarke and 
Mr. Hezekiah (.'ollins he ap{)ointed a eonmiittee to treat with 
the town of Westerly, respeeting the town debts before 
divided, an<l settle the same according to" the Act of \hr, 
General Assembly, and make retnrn as soon as conveniently 
they can. 

\'()t('d. tliat this town meeting be adjonrncd \o the 
tw^'iitietli day of Ajuil, instant, to the dwcUino- house of 
Jedediah Davises, at 10 of the clock in tlic forenoon, in order 
to choose their Depnties and }>iit i" their proxv votes ibr 
H'eneral oflicers. 

Projionnded in oi'der to lie made free of tiie town, ikv., 
(viz.) Timothy Peckham, Daniel Ihitler, Jnn., John Stan- 
berry, Eba Crandall, Jun., David 1'anner, Izrael Brumbley, 
Benjamin Austin, Klias Lewis, Caleb Wells and Xathan 
Kinyon.'' 

'•At a town meeting held in ITopkint,on, in Kings conntx', 
in the Colony of Rhode Island, the twentieth day of April in 
the thirtieth year of he ^lajesties reign, Annoque Domwi^ 
1757, by adjournment at the dwelling honse of Mr. Jedediah 
Davises. 

Voted, that Benjamin Randal, Jun., Joshua Maxson and 
Ephraim Hall be admitted free of this town, who have taken 
the oath against bribery prescribed by law. 

Voted, that Edward Wells be appointed at the expense of 
the town to make two jury boxes. 

Voted, that Thos. AVait be admitted free of this town. 



20 HISTORY OF HOrKINTOX. 

Voted, tli.'it Mr. Joshua CUarke, Mr. Hozekiab Collins l>c 
the Deputies and lvej)reseiitatives for this town, to sitt in the 
General Assembly, and Election at Newport of the First 
AVednesday in May, next. 

Voted, that Mr. Joshna Clarke the first Deputy, be 
appointed to carry their town's proxy votes and deliver them 
to the Governor in open assembly, the first AVednesday in 
J\[ay, next. 

Voted, that El)enezer Burdick have an order to the Town 
Treasurer for the sum of six ])ounds, (dd tenor, for his 
service in warning- in the town the fourth of April, 1757. 

The hdlowing men desire to be propounded, (viz.) 
Rowland Robinson, William McCoon, Richmond Reynolds, 
,rosej)h Reynolds, Jun., Joseph Greene, Benj. Robbins, 
Stephen Allen, Cliarles Bowen, William Steward, Jnn., 
John Latham. 

Voted, that this town m'^eting be disolved. 

John Burdick desires to be propounded. 

The above is a true copy of the minutes of the first and 
second town meetings held in this town. At the next town 
meeting which occurred on the 7th day of June following a 
vote was passed somewhat significant of an economy which 
might not be inapplicable to the present day. 

Voted that Thomas Potter the Town Treasurer be 
appointed to hire as much money as he thinks necessary for 
to pay the towns present necessities as cheap as he can at 
the town's expense. 

For the first five 3^ears the name of the Town Clerk was 
not signed to the records, the first time it appears as attesting 
the recorded minutes, was in August 31st, 1762, as follows: 
Pr Joshua Clarke, Town Clarke. 

The loyalty and bravery of the sons of Hopkinton were 
developed during the first year of its existence j the following 
vote taken from the minutes of a town meeting held June 



HISTORY OF HOPKINTON. 21 

7tli, 17.37, shows that Hopkintou l)ore a part in the Freiu'h 
and Indian war. 

Voted, that Nathan Biirdick and Simeon Perry be ap- 
pointed a committee to settle the affair with Cap'n John 
Coon with respect to the fines where he hath impressed or 
drawn men to go in the expedition against Crown Point, and 
report at the next town meeting. 

From a minute found in the town record under date of July 
14th, Anno Domini, 1757, we learn that the town was not 
unmindful of its tax paying citizens who are unfortunate, or 
in ill health. 

Voted, that David Lewis shall not he rated either in the 
colony rate or town rate so long as he remains in a poor state 
of health as he seems to be now in. 



SECTION 2, 



ABORIGINES. 



Before proceeding- farther with tlie iiieipieiit ^teps of the 
settlement of the Town, it may l)e })ertinent to recur briefly 
to the aborigines, who once roamed the forents of the now 
open meadows, cultivated farms, and manufacturing villages 
of the present day. 

But few of this Assembly perhaps, have ever seen even 
one of those red men of the forest. In their physique, they 
were a stalwart, noble race, possessing many admirable traits 
of character, savages though they were, all American history 
would be incomplete Avithout recognizing them. 

The Aborigines of this country were mostly of a roving 
character. They existed in tribes who maintained a kind of 
separate independency occupying at least temporarily a cer- 
tain tract of country. Sucli tracts were held in common for 
hunting, fishing, and rude planting. 

The red man knew little or nothing of personal property 
in lands. Only Sagamores, Sachems, Chiefs and leading 
Captains could subscribe names and give titles. The Indi- 
ans chief employment, and highest glory was war. Devel- 
opment, progress towards a higher type of manhood, seemed 
not inherent within him. 



HISTORY OF IIOPKINTOX. 23 

Tliroiigh the ceiitudevS of history, though unimpeded hy 
foreign powers, and surrounded by all natural resources and 
opportunities, he utterly failed to reveal any respectable or 
tolerable type of civilization, Of the religion of the abori- 
gines, Itoger Williams says "they have plenty of gods or di- 
vine powers; The sun, moon, fire, water, earth, the decre, 
the beare, &;c." *'I brought home lately IVom the Nanhig- 
gonsicks, (Xarragansetts) the names of thirty-eight of their 
gods" They were spiritualists in the fullest sense. They 
had no images. In every tree, shrub, plant, in water, air, 
cloads, the planets, in everything the\'^ located a Deity. 

Accordinsf to tlieir tradition Kautantowit their chief irod 
made the first human pair from a stone, but, not liking them 
destroyed them, and made a second pair from a tree, from 
which last pair all mankind have descended. 

The Pequots believe in two great gods, Kitchtan, the 
author of good, and Hobamoclio the author of evil. 



SECTION 8. 



SETTLED BY THE WHITE8. 



''Froiii tmditioii and family records (according- to the Rev. 
F. Denison) we learn that the first white man who settled in 
the town of Westerly (which then embraced the now town of 
Hopkinton, Avas John Babcock, who^ to enjoy the sweet lib- 
erty and peace of pnre love with lier wlio liad deserved and 
won his heart — Miss ^NFary Lawton — eloped from Newport 
with his fair bride in an open ])oat, braved the tossing sea, 
passed along the coast, reached the month of the Pawcatnck 
river, ascended the stream, landed among the painted red 
men, and, by their consent, pitched his cabin in the forest 
near Mastnxet brook, and finally became a large land hold- 
er as well as the head of a nnmerons and worthy family." 

Such was love and its romance in that age, and such will 
it ever be in any age. 

The first settler in this town was Daniel Lewis about the 
year 1704, He built his house on the lot now owned by the 
Joint Districts Nos. 2 & 4 of Hopkinton and 8 of Westerly 
and now' oc(;upied by the school house of the graded schools 
in that Joint District It is also known as the Lucy Max- 
son land. An excavation in the ground now marks the spot 
where his house stood. Says S. in his Ashaway letter "it is 



HISTORY OF HOPKINTOX. 25 

ti singular fact tliat tlie citizens of this community (Hopkin- 
ton) in selecting a site for the first Academy, in the town 
were so united as to at once choose the lot that Daniel Lewis 
vselected for liis first house to stand upon. The old well from 
which he drew water, not many rods from his house is 
still in Uv^e. 

This Daniel Lewis was the son of John Lewis, who came 
from England, in company with his four brothers, at the first 
settlement of this county, and settled not far from the pres- 
ent residence of John 11. Cross, Esq., Westerly. His 
brothers located themselves near Boston Mass. John had 
seven sons. Daniel found his home in Hopkinton, Israel at 
Long Island, Jonathan at Richmond in this State, another 
at Exeter, while several remained with their father at Wes- 
terly. John, tlie lather of these seven sons died at Pawca- 
tuck, and was buiicd juvSt below the villaL'"e of AVesterly, 
near the road leading to Wat(di Hill. 

Daniel Lewis the Urst settler in that part of Hopkinton 
was a fuller by trade and canie*! on his business where is 
now the Laurel Dale mill, or very near there. He erected 
the first dam there, and for many years carried on a thriving 
business for the times. He was a firm go ahead man, hon- 
est in every particular and when once set upon what he con- 
sidered to be right was immutably fixed. He had three 
sons, John, Jonathan and Daniel and three daughters Mary, 
Dorcas and Hannah. Mr. Lewis was a member of the First 
Seventh Day Bai)tist Church in Hopkintcm and died in 1717, 
not far from fii'tv vears of ao-e. 

The following is a verbatim extract from the preamble of 
his will: 

"In the name of God, amen. I, Daniel Lewis, in the 
Colony of Rhode Island, fuller, being sick and weak in body, 
])ut of perfect mind and memory, thanks be given unto God, 
therefore calling unto mind the mortality of my body, and 



26 HISTORY OF HOPKINTON. 

knowing* that it is appointed for all men once to die^ do make 
and ordain this my last will and testament — that is to say 
principal and first of all I give and recommend my sonl into 
the hands of God that gave it, and my body I commend to 
the earth, to be buried in a decent christian burial at the dis- 
cretion of mv executors, nothino- doubtino- that at the opener- 
al resurrection I shall receive it by the mighty power of 
God. 

As touching such worldly estate wherewith it hath pleased 
God to bless me in this life, I give, bequeathe," &c., &c. 

Then follows tlie several items of bequest, giving John 
the property at Laurel Dale, and Daniel a farm in the Tom- 
aquag Valley. His grave and the grave of his wife and 
some of the children may be seen not far from tlie road 
about half way from the Babcock house, (on the site of whicli 
the residence of Horace L. Crandall now [1876] stands) to 
the late residence of Deacon Elnathan W. Babcock. 

Sacred to the memory of this ancient family, should pre- 
serve these graves from being desecrated by tlie plougli- 
share of time. 

Daniel Lewis 2d, cultivated his little farm on the Toma- 
quag, built a dam and erected a mill for fulling cloth. The 
old mill is. not to l)e seen but a part of the dam remains. 
He had three sons Daniel, Jonathan and Maxson. 

Daniel Lewis 3d, settled on the Tomaquag about 20 rods 
from the old mill above mentioned. He was by trade a car- 
penter and he had two sons Daniel and Christopher. Daniel 
lived and died at his late residence now (1876) owned by 
Thomas M. Clarke who married his daughter Ann. Christo- 
pher held many important offices in the town one of which 
was that of Town Clerk, which office he held for over forty 
3^ears. He lived and died in the house now owned 
by the widow of his late deceased son, Dea. Nathan K. 
Lewis. These brothers, Daniel and Christopher, were 



HISTORY OF HOPKINTON. 27 

proiiiineiit members of the First Seventh Day Baptist Chm'ch in 
Hopkinton, and for many years filled Avitli great credit to 
themselves, and greater benefit to the ehiu-eh, the offtce of 
Deacons. They now rest from their labors and their works 
do follow them. 

The late Dr. Daniel Lewis was a great, great grandson of 
the old settler Daniel Lewis, and his son Dr. James N. 
Lewis of AVyoming, is the great, great, great grandson of 
the original settlers. 

In 1774, Hopkinton had two hundred and ninety-nine 
families ; common among whom were the names of AVells? 
Clarke, Lewis, Babcock, Maxson, Bm'diek and Crandall. 



SECTION 4. 



DELUSIONS AND SUPERSTITIONS. 



The infallibility of reasons lias not as yet attained perfec- 
tion. Man has imagination as well as reason, and the for- 
mer often usnrps the place of the latter. Delusions and su- 
perstitions are not confined to any age or people. Necro- 
mancy, demonism and spiritualism have appeared more or 
less in the history of the world. 

''The history of any Townsliip" (says Rev. T. Denison) 
''would be devoid both of a portion of its vital facts and of 
its instructive lessons, if no mention were made of the phan- 
tasies and follies, and superstitions and delusions of the peo- 
ple." It is a great mistake to suppose that delusions and 
superstitions are confined or are even most general in the do- 
main of religion ; they have entered into all human affairs. 
Even Luther, the great reformer said, ''experience has prov- 
ed the toad to be endowed with valuable qualities. If 3'on 
run a stick through three toads, and, after having dried them 
in the sun, appl}^ them to any pestilent tumor, they draw out 
all the poison, and the malad}^ will disappear. King James 
believed in witchcraft; and the P-iuitans cast out devils by 
hanging. Thousands have asserted that they have seen 
ghosts, been ridden by witches, and have had their fortunes 



HISTOEY OF nOPKINTOX. 29 

told. Multitude,s luive dug for water at the tipping of a wil- 
low stick, or dug for gold and liidden treasures at the point- 
ing of a liard braneli of a divining rod; ns later victims of 
orednlity have gaped for revelations from the raps and tips 
of tables. Hopkinton was not an exception. 

Granxy Mott. — Near 1740, there lived in Hopkinton an 
old woman called Granny Mott, who hud the reputation of 
being a witch. 8he could ride a smooth shod horse upon the 
ice with the greatest speed. She once came to the house of 
Thomas Potter to procure work, ^h\ Potter's sdu Stephen 
was playing about the floor when one of the older children 
whispered to him to st^ck an awl in the old woman's chair. 
She sat immovable for hours until the family became con- 
vinced that slie was a witch. Ever after when she visited 
the house she would stand, or sit upon a chest or bed, how- 
ever manv chairs misfht be near. One of her neighbors was 
much annoyed by a flock of lieatli hens, the head one of 
which would fly close around him and bid defiance to his 
oft repeated shots, cutting a silver button from his coat he 
loaded his gun with it, he fired at the troublesome bird and 
killed it, he soon heard that Granny Mott was sick unto 
death ; and as her daughter who attended her refused all 
assistance in preparing the body for burial, (for she died) it 
was believed that she was shot with the silver button in the 
person of that bird. 

McDaniel. — In Hopkinton lived a little, oldXegroman, 
jet black, with fierce looking e3'es, named James McDaniel, 
his cocked hat, glaring eyes, and daring manner, won for 
him the reputation of kinship to the monarch of darkness. 
When Amos Langworthy Jun., brought liome his bride to 
his father's, McDaniel came and wished to fiddle, but the 
father, Amos Langworthy, Sen., refused, as it was against 
his principle to have fiddling in his house. The old negro 
was enraged and prophesied that he would yet be obliged to 



30 HISTOKY OF HOPKIXTON". 

have fiddling- under liis roof. Shortly My. Lang-worthy's 
davi<?hter, Aniv. was seized with fits that nothino* would 
allay but music; at the sound of the viol she would recover, 
and then dance for hours. Many came to witness the matter, 
and it was believed that Miss Lang"worthy was be^\■itched 
b}- jMcDaniel. At last My. Langworthy hired a fiddler by 
the month, as his daughter had fits nearly every evening", 
until she Avas A^isited bj^ a Mr. Mason, of Connecticut, who 
laid his hands upon her and prayed ; after which she had no 
iitsj but she never fully recovennl. Other spirits visited 
Mr. Lano'worthv's dwellinof, enterin<>*locked rooms, derano"- 
ing and polluting the dishes and milk pans. On one occa- 
sion when liding* in great haste for a physician Mr. L. dis- 
mounted to open the bars, and on remounting found his 
bridle reins tied in knots. 

The SiiAKEKS. — The first shakers came to this country 
from England in 1774, and established themselves in the 
state of New York. Towards the close of the century a few 
were found in Hopkinton and its vicinity. The principle 
person among them was Joshua Birch, a man of property 
who lived in the house formerlv owned bv Mr. Peleo" Clarke, 
Sen., but now by his son Alfred Clarke, near Clarke's Falls 
tlien known as the Birchen Mills. This large house afford- 
ed accommodations for the acts of devotion to this dancing 
and shaking" sect. On a certain occasion 3Irs. Birch in a 
transport of religious excitement threw lier necklace of gold 
tipon the floor when the feet of the pious dancers soon re- 
duced it to powder. 

Beli)e:n:ites. — About the year 1810 or 12, there lived a 
man in this town by the name of John Belden who became 
the leader of a sect called Beldenites, among their preachers, 
one Morse became quite conspicuous; and hence this fanat- 
ical sect were called Morseites, and his name was frequently 
embodied in their psalmody as in the following- stanza: 



HISTORY OF nOPKlNTOX. 31 

"Ye Morseites of Hopkinton, 

Keep your armor bright ; 
Ye Morseites of Hopkinton, 

Make ready for the fight. 

This sect held their meetings at tlie residences of Benja- 
min Kenyon, Libl>eus Coon and Abel Tanner. They 
practiced baptism and called themselves christians. These 
fanatics miijht have been called verv properlv relia'ions 
gymnasts, for in their acts of religions worshi}), they ran 
aronnd the chimney, dancing, barking, hooting, lea})ing, and 
shouting, sometimes they ran like quadrupeds upon their 
hands and toes. The families were very affectionate in 
their devotional exercises, practicing what they called the 
Holy Ghost kiss. One evening at Mr. Kenyon's house after 
Mr. Morse had preached, a ^Ir. Palmer arose and made a 
very and explicit confession of his numerous evil ways, 
whereupon Mrs. Kenyon who was sick in her bed arose in 
her night clothes, and, pressing through the crow d, embraced 
and kissed Mr. Palmer, evidently with much aff'ection, and 
then fell down and jjrayed in her dcshahiUc as she was. 
Some persons lost their strength and fell upon the floor. 
One Woman after falling commenced whirling around on her 
hip, her clothes and loose hair flying horizontally. At the 
close of their meetings they usually went from house to house, 
rousing the people from their slumbers, warning them to 
liee from the wrath to come. Their excesses and their lib- 
ertinism proved their ruin, and about the year 1815 or 16, 
thev struck their tent and emie'rated to Ohio. 

Many houses in Hopkinton were haunted by spirits from 
the other world or the vasty deep, strange noises were heard, 
lights of various hues were seen, windows were illuminated, 
cannon balls were heard rolling across the floor, moaning 
cries w^ere heard in the air, and many significant warnings 
of death were given ; and maidens practiced various incanta- 
tions in order to discover who their lovers and future hus- 



32 HISTORY OF HbrKINTOK. 

bandn wei\i to be. But the following manifestations of Satan 
in 'Squire Clarke's family^ of Westerly, strnek terror 
througliont Hopkintonj and for years put a stop to incanta- 
tions and bewilderments. This singular circumstance must 
be given in the language of l^eacon William H. Potter of 
Oroton, Conn., as communicated by him to the Narragansett 
Weekly, in Xovember, 1860. During the Kevolutionary 
War, Hannah Max»on and Comfort Cottrell, two giils then 
staying at the house of Esquire Clarke^ of Westerly, were 
trying their fortunes and endeavoring to bring their V>eaux^ 
by throwing each, her ball of yarn into the well; and wind- 
ino' them oif while thev severallv repeated a verse from the 

O eel 

Scriptures, backwards. They conq)leted their charm about 
dusk, and went to the front door of the house, and were 
there standing, awaiting the arrival of their sweet-hearts, or 
the result of their incantations, possibly a little conscience 
smitten at their abuse of the verse of Scripture, but still in 
high spirits and bent on an innocent frolic, Mrs. Clark, the 
wife of the 'Squire was sick, in a bed in o)ie of the rooms. 
But while the thoughtless girls were standing in suspense, 
but in high glee, lo, they both saw a monster figure coming- 
up the road. It was some eight or ten feet high, and 
marched with a stately step, but with eyes, as tliey said, *'as 
bity as saucers" and breathing flames from his distended jaws. 
Thev saw it turn from the street and approach the house. 
In consternaticm, they fled frantically, and with loud screams, 
into the room where Mrs. Clark lay, and threw themselves 
upon the bed behind the sick woman, more dead than alive. 
Esquire Clark, who was a pious man, and not easily fright- 
ened, came in at the back door the moment the monster had 
mounted the front door step, and was glaring steadily into 
the house through the panes of glass over the front door. 
'I'he steady, unmistakable gaze of the demon, for such they 
believed him to be, convinced Mr. Clark at once that spirit- 



HISTORY OF HOPKINTON. 33 

nal weapons were alone adeqnate to combat sncli an adversa- 
ry. He immediately went to prayer, and the devil mean- 
time, left, never again reappearing to trouble the good man's 
lionse, or the terror stricken girls. 

The explanation of tliis mysterious affair was not permit- 
ted to be made known, for at least seventy years, and not 
till all the parties and their cotemporaries had passed away, 
a Mr. Daniel Rogers of Newport was the author of this de- 
ception being a great lover of fun. 



SECTION 5, 



AMUSEMENT. 

Amusements are as old as time, and almost as universally 
diffused as light. All nations, both savage and eivilized 
have their amusements; amusements peculiar to themselves. 
The pursuit of amusements is the business of childhood, and 
chiklhood when grown up seldom loses its relish for them. 

The first settlers of Hopkinton, ])uritanical, though they 
were in many things, had their amusements. Muster or 
tiaining days were special seasons of amusement and recrea- 
tion, at which business was generally suspended, and botli 
old and young went to see the traineis, to hear the fife and 
the drum, and to feast on molasses candv and o'ino-erbread. 
General or regimental and brii>'ade trainino-s would call to- 
gether a large portion of the population for miles around. 
On these occasions all, with scarcely an exception, inibil)ed 
freely cider, rum and cherry brandy, until story telling and 
social hilarity became general. Temperance consisted in 
not o-ettino- drunk, but a little boozv. Stated holidavs were 
special seasons of merr}^ making. In addition to tliese, the 
young people would have huskings, bush cuts, quiltings, 
spinning bees, and apple cuts. At all these there was some 
work and a good deal of fun, much of story telling, of love 
making, singing and joking; usually closing with fiddling 
and dancing. Courting, Avooing and marrying were made 
si^ecial occasions for mirthfulness and hilarity. Running 
around the chimney to kiss or be kissed as you passed the 
threshhold of every door was common to all household en- 
tertainments. 



SECTION 6. 



CIVIL HISTORY. 



Coiitainiiiii' exhact^ fmin tlio town records. I liere iiissort 
a list of the names of tlie ^Moderators, Town Clerkv^, Town 
Treasurers, Deputies, Senators and IJepresentatives of the 
town, froju its orii-ani/aTion in 17o7, to 187G a period of 119 
years, The list is I believe correct, yet there may be a few 
errors, for it retpiired both time and patience, to.read up the 
records for nearly one and a quarter century. For the first 
iiftv years (more or less) from four to six or more town meet- 
ings were held one month. Hence there will ajipear in the 
list the names of seveial Moderators, during the same year. 
Date, Moderator. Town Clerk. Town Treasurer. 

1757 George Bahcock, Simeon Perry, .Joshua Clarke, 
Dauiel McCoon, " " Thomas Potter, 

1758 George Babcock, 
Daniel McCoon, 

1759 George Babcock, 

1760 " " Joshua Clarke, " '• 
Benj. Randall 

1762 George Babcock, 

Benj. Randall, " " " " 

1763 Georse Babcock, 

1761 Hezekiah Collins, 

George Babcock, " " " " 

Benj. Randall, 



36 



HISTORY OF HOPKINTOX, 



Date, 


MODERATOK. 


Town Clerk. 


1764: 


George Babcock, 


Joshua Clarke 




Benj. Randall, 


(( (1 


1765 


George Babcock, 


.( (k 




Hezekiah Collins, 


(1 (t 


1766 


George Babcock, 


t( (( 


1767 


Thomas Wells, 


(( a 


1768 


(( (1 


John Maxson 


1769 


(( (( 


(( (( 



1770 



1771 



1772 



Joshua Clarke, 
Thomas Wells, 
Joshua Clarke, 

Daniel Coon, 
Joshua Clarke, 
Nathan Burdick, 



1773 


Joshua Clarke, 


(( 


(( 


1774 


(( (( 


Abel Tanner 


1775 


U (( 


(( 


<( 


1776 


Thomas Wells 


(( 


<( 


1777 


Joshua Clarke 


<( 


(( 


1778 


(( (( 


(( 


(( 




Thomas Wells 


(( 


(( 


1779 


(( (( 


(( 


(( 


1780 


(1 (( 


(( 


(( 


1781 


(( (1 


<( 


(< 


1782 


(( (( 


(i 


(( 




Jesse Maxson, 


(( 


(( 




Thomas Wells, 


i ( 


(( 


1783 


John Coon, 


t( 


(( 


1784 


Edward Wells, 


(( 


(( 


1785 


Thomas Wells, 


(( 


(( 


1786 


(t <( 


(( 


(( 




Mathew Maxson, 


(t 


(( 




John Coon, 


(( 


(( 


1787 


Joseph Collins, 


Caleb Potter, 


1788 


Samuel Babcock, 


(( 


U 


1789 


(( (( 


(( 


(< 


1790 


Thomas Wells, 


(1 


(( 


1791 


Samuel Babcock 


^ (( 


(( 


1792 


(( <( 


(( 


(( 


1793 


(( (( 


i( 


(( 


1794 


<( (( 


i( 


(( 


1795 


(( (( 


(( 


(( 


1796 


Moses Barber, 


(( 


(1 


1797 


Jesse Maxson, 


(( 


(( 


1798 


(( <( 


(( 


(< 


1799 


(( <( 


(t 


(( 


1800 


(( (( 


(1 


(( 


1801 


(( (( 


(4 


(( 



Town Treasurer. 
Thomas Potter, 



Joshua Clarke, 



Joseph Witter, 



Joseph Thurston, 



Hezekiah Babcock, 



HISTORY OF HOPKIXTOX. 37 

Date. Moderator, Town* Clerk, Town Treasurer, 

1802 Jesse Maxson, Caleb Potter, Hezekiah Babcoek, 

1803 Dr. Wm. Wilbur, " " John Wilbur, 
ISO-t " " *' *' Edward Wells, 

1805 " " " ^' Edward S. Wells, 

1806 " " ♦* " Raiuru Wells, Esq 

1807 Samuel Peckham, Esq. " 

1808 Daniel Babcock, *' " " 

1809 Wm. Wilbur, 

\^l() 1' " *' '< ■" " 

1811 ♦' " '< ** ■ '* '^ 

1812 ♦' " '* ** Oeorge Thurston, 

1813 Dea. Daniel Babcock, " " Gee. Thurston, Jr 
18^4 (( (( »< <« '» «< 

1815 " " " '< " " 

181G Daniel Babcock, Esq. '' 

18^7 << (( << << *< << 

1818 «« '* Christopher C.Lewis, *' ** 

1819 *' " " ** " " 

1820 '* ** ** " " " 

1821 «' << " ** " " 

1822 " " «* ** ** *' 

1823 '« •< ** ** *' *' 
1824: " <* ** ** " " 
1825 " '« «< ** " " 
1820 " " ** ** ** *' 

1827 " " " <* " ** 

1828 Jeremiah Thurston, '' *' Jeremiah Thurston, 

1829 " " *' *' *' " 

1830 Nathan Lillibridge, " " Henrj M. Wells, 

1831 Edward Barber, " " ** " 

1832 " " " <* Jesse Brown, 

1833 Benjamin Thurston, " *' ■" ^* 

1834 " «< «< « <' " 

1835 •* «« " " *' " 

1836 " " ♦* *' *' " 

1837 " " «< << *• *' 

1838 " «' " " " " 

1839 ♦« " «< " " " 

1840 " ** " " ** " 

1841 '« «< <« " " *' 

1842 *' *« " '* " " 

1843 '* «♦ «♦ " Benj. B. Thurston, 

1844 Elnathan Babcock, «' " " " 

1845 " " " " " ** 

1846 *« «' <« *< *' "^ 

1847 «< << '< " '« <* 

1848 Albert Witter, " " Charles Noyes 

1849 Joseph Brightman, " •' " " 

1850 Joseph T. Barber " '« " " 



38 



HISTORY OF HOPKINTOK. 



Town Treasurek. 

Charles Noyes, 



Henry Wliipple, 



Jolin 8. Chaniplin, 



Edwin K. Allen 



Date. Moderator. Town Clerk. 

1851 Benj. TLurs^on, Christopber C, Lewis, 

1852 Nathan K. Lewis, 

1853 " " " *' 

1854 George H. Ohiey, 

1855 • 
1856 
1857 
1858 
1859 
1860 
1861 
1862 

1868 Olirev B. Irish, 
1861 
1865 

1866 William L. Clarke, 

1867 George H. Olney. 

1868 George H. Olney, *• •• '• " 

1869 •• •• '' '^ '' " 
1870 

1871 Sands C. Carr, 

1872 

1873 Nathan L. Richmond, " " '' 

1871: 

1875 S. S. Griswold, " " '• " 

1876 - •• '' " " '• 

Deputies. — The town ofllopkinton Avns firi^t represented 
in the (Jeneml Assembly of tlie Colony oriiliode Island and 
Providence Plantations held at Newport the first Wednesday 
in May*1757, and the first l)e])uties to that body from this 
Town, were Major Joshua Clarke and ]\Ir. Hezekiah Collins. 

The lion. Stephen Hopkins was Governor, and the Hon. 
John Gardner was Deputy Governor. 

List of the names of Deputies, Senators and Representatives 
to the (Jeneral Assemblv from 17")? to 1876. 



1757 Major Joshua Clarke, 
Mr. Hezekiah Collins. 

1758 Maj. Joshua Clarke, 
Capt. Edward Wells, Jun. 

1759 INlaj. Joshua Clarke, 
Capt. Edwai'd wells, Jun. 

1760 Maj. Joshua Clarke, 
Capt. Edward Wells, Jun. 



1761 Maj. Joshua Clarke, 

. Capt. Edward Wells, Jun. 

1762 Maj. .Joshua Clarke, 
Mr. John Maxson. 

1763 ]\!aj. Joshua Clarke, 
jMr. John Maxson, Jun. 

1764 Maj. .Joshua Clarke, 
Mr. John Maxson. 



HISTORY OF HOPJIINTON. 



39 



1765 Maj. Joshua Clarke, j 1787 
Mr. John Maxsou. j 

1766 Maj. Joshua Clarke, | 1788 
Mr. Johu Maxson. | 

1767 Capt. Eilward Wells, 1789 
Mr. James Rhodes. 

1768 Capt. EJward Wells, 17{»0 
Mr. Lawtou Palmer. 

1769 Mr. Thomas Wells, Jun. 1791 
Mr. Abel Tanner. 

1770 Mr. Thomas Wells, Jun. 1792 
Capt. Abel Tanner. 

1771 Mr, Thomas Wells. Jun. 1793 
Capt. Abel Tanner. 

1772 Mr. Thomas Wells, Jun. 1791 
Capt. Abel Tanner. 

1773 Mr. Zaccheus Reynolds, 179o 
Mr. Jesse Maxson. 

1774 Mr. Thomas Wells, Jun. . 1796 
Mr. Jesse Maxson. 

1775 Capt. Abel Tanner, ' 1797 
Mr. Thomas Wells, 3d i 

1776 Mr. Johu Larkin, 1798 
Mr. Thomas Wells. 

1777 Thomas Wells, Esq. 1799 
Mr. Edward Wells. | 

1778 Thomas Wells, Esq. \ 1800 

George Thurston, Esq. 

1779 Mr. Abel Tanner, ! 1801 
Jesse Maxson, Esq. 

1780 Abel Tanner, Esq. 1802 
Mr. William Coon. 

1781 George Thurston. Esq. 1803 
Mr. Samuel Babcock. 

1782 Abel Tanner, Esq. 180-1 
George Thurston, Esq. 

1783 Abel Tanner, Esq. : 1805 
George Thurston, Esq. ' 

1784 Mr. Oliver Davis, 1806 
Mr. John Brown. | 

1785 Mr. Oliver Davis, ' 1807 
Mr. Thomas Wells, 2d. 

1786 Abel Tanner, Esq. i 1808 
Thomas Wells, Esq. i 



Abel Tanner, Esq. 
Thomas Wells, 2d. 
David Nichols, Esq. 
Mr. Ross Coon. 
David Nichols. Esq. 
Geoi'ge Thurston, Esq. 
Geoi-ge Thurston, Esq. 
Mr. Oliver Davis. 
George Thurston. Esq. 
Mr. Oliver Davis. 

George Thurston. Esq. 
Moses Barber. Esq. 
George Thurston. Esq. 
Moses Barber, Esq. 

George Thurston, Esq. 
Moses Barber. Esq. 

George Thurston. Esq. 
Moses Barber, Esq. 

Geoi'ge Thurston. 
Oliver Davis. 

James W^ells. Jun. 
Hezekiah Babcock. 

Capt. Janies Wells, 
Hezekiah Babcock, Jun, 

Capt. James Wells, 
Maj. Jeremiah Thurston- 

Capt. James Wells, 
Col. Jeremiah Thurston. 

Hezekiah Babcock. 
Jeremiah Thurston, 2d. 

Hezekiah Babcock, 
Col. Jeremiah Thurston, 

Samuel Peckham, Esq. 
Dr. Amos Collins, 
Samuel Peckham, Esq. 
Dr. Amos Collins. 

Dr. Amos Collins. 
Daniel Babcock. Esq. 

Amos Collins, Esq. 
Randall Wells. Esq. 

Dr. Amos Collins. 
Randall Wells, Esq. 

Jeremiah Thurston. Esq. 
Capt. James Wells, Jun. 



40 



•HISTORY OF HOrKi:ffTOS", 



1809 Col. Jeremiah Thurston, 
Dea, Alpheus Bnrdick. 

1810 Col. Jeremiah Thurston, 
Capt. James Wells. 

1811 Col. Jeremiah Thurston, 
Capt. James Wells. 

1812 Col. Jeremiah Thurston, 
Capt. James Wells. 

1813 Col. Jeremiah Thurston, 
Capt. James Wells. 

1814 Col. Jeremiah Thurston, 
Capt. James Wells. 

1815 Col. Jeremiah Thurston. 
Hezekiah Babcock. 

1816 Capt. James Wells, 
Col. Edward Barber. 

1817 Gov. Jeremiah Thurston, 
Col. Edward Barber. 

1818 Jeremiah Thurston, Esq. 
Col. Edward Barber. 

1819 Jeremiah Thurston, Esq. 
Col. Edward Barber. 

1820 Jeremiah Thurston, Esq. 
Col. Edward Barber. 

1821 Jeremiah Thurston, Esq. 
Col. Edward Barber, 

1822 Jeremiah Thurston. Esq. 
Col. Edward Barber. 

1823 Jeremiah Thurston, 
Edward Barber. 

1824 Jeremiah Thurston, 
Edward Barber. 

1825 Daniel Babcock. Esq. 
Edward Barber. 



1826 Edward Barber Esq. 
Elnathan W. Babcock. 

1827 Edward Barber, 
Elnathan W. Babcock. 

1828 Edward Barber, 
Jonathan N. Hazard. 

1829 Jeremiah Thurston. Esq. 
Elnathan W. Babcock. 

1830 Elnathan W. Babcock, 
Josiah Witter. 

1831 Gorton W. Arnold. 
Benjamin B, Thurston. 

1832 Benjamin B. Thurston, 
Elnathan W. Babcock. 

1833 Benjamin B. Thurston, 
Elnathan W. Babcock. 

1834 Benjamin B. Thurston, 
Gorton W. Arnold. 

1835 Benjamin B. Thurston, 
Gorton W. Arnold. 

1836 Benjamin B. Thurston, 
Dr. Joseph D. Kenyon. 

1837 Henry M. AVells, 
Edward Barber. 

1838 Henry ]\I. Wells, 
Edward Barber. 

1839 Henry M. Wells, 
Edward Barber. 

1840 Edward Barber, 
Joseph T. Barber. 

1841 Horace Thurston, 
Edward Barber 

1842 Elnathan W. Babcock, 
Joseph T. Barber. 



In 1841, Benjamin B. Thurston and Edward Barber were 
elected delegates to attend a Convention to be h olden at 
Providence, on the first Monday in November, next, to 
frame a new Constitution for this State, pursuant to a reso- 
lution of the General Assembly, passed at their January 
Session, 1841. 



HISTORY OF HOPKINTOX. 



41 



Edward Barber and John H. Wells were elected Dele- 
i^ates to attend the above named Convention, which was 
adjourned to meet at Newport on the second Monday of 
Se])tember, next. 

Tlie new Constitution of the State having been ado])ted, 
(1843,) the town now elects a Senator and Representatives 
as foHows, the first named being the Senator. 



1843 Josiali W. Lang worthy, 
Joseph T. Barber. 

18-44 George Irish, 

Joseph T. Barber. 

1845 George Irish, 

. Joseph T. Barber. 

1846 George W. Hoklredge, 
Gorton W. ArnoM. 

1847 George W. Holclredge, 
Joseph T. Barber. 

1848 George W. Holdredge, 
Joseph T. Barber. 

1849 Isaac Cundall, 
John M. Barber. 

1850 John S. Champliu, 
Welcome Collins, 

1851 John S. Champlin, 
Welcome Collins. 

1852 John S. ChamiJlin, 
George W. Holdredge. 

1853 John S. Champlin, 
Jonathan R. Wells. 

1854 John S. Chamjdin, 
Harris Lanphear. 

1855 Lester Crandall, 
Daniel L. Hall. 

1856 Lester Crandall, 
Harris Lanphear. 

1857 Daniel G. Sherman, 
Jonathan Larkin, 

1858 Benjamin Thurston, 
Jonathan Larkin. 

1859 Samuel N. Richmond, 
Thomas M. Clarke. 

6 



1860 


Samuel N, Richmond, 




Thomas M. Clarke. 


1861 


Thomas T. Barber, 




Jonathan Larkin. 


1862 


Thomas T. Barber, 




Sands C. Carr, 


1863 


Thomas T. Barber, 




Sands C. Carr. 


1864 


Thomas T. Barber, 




Thomas M. Clarke. 


1865 


William R. Greene, 




William L. Clarke. 


1866 


William R. Greene, 




William L. Clarke. 


1867 


Charles Noyes, 




Samuel N. Richmond. 


1868 


Charles Noyes, 




Samuel N. Richmond. 


1869 


George W. Taylor, 




George H. Olney. 


1870 George W. Taylor, 




George H. Olney. 


1871 


Edward Barber, 




Alanson Crandall. 


1872 


Edward Barber, 




Alanson Crandall. 


1873 


Edward Barber, 




Alanson Crandall. 


1874 William L. Clarke, 




Benjamin Kenyon. 


1875 


No Election, 




No Election. 


1876 


Oliver Langworthy, 



Thomas H. Greene. 



42 HISTORY OF HOPKINTOX. 

If space permitted, it would be but just to insert here, an 
expression of respect to the many worthy names in the list 
of Town Officers, Deputies, Senators and Representatives ; but 
they will be held in respectful remembrance by all, for their 
faithful service rendered. The followinof minute from the 
town records is transcribed as one expression of marked re- 
spect for one who filled the responsible office of Town Clerk 
for more than fort}^ years. 

Resolved "That the thanks of the town be given 
to Christopher C. Lewis, Esq., late Town Clerk of 
this town for the able and im])artial manner in which he 
has discharged the duties of said office for the last forty-one 
3'ears. 

Resolved, That the Clerk be requested to transmit a certi- 
fied cop3^ of the above resolution to Christopher C. Lewis 
Esq.'' 

Mr. Lewis was firet elected in 1817 and was continuously 
re-elected annually till 1858 Avlien he tendered his resignation, 
which was accepted. During the whole period of forty-one 
years Mr. Lewis was present and officiated as clerk at every 
town meeting held, except one, when his son Deacon Nathan 
K. Lewis served as clerk for the day. Few men ever 
show such a record. There are others who have well de- 
served respectful notice, from the town, but, as I find no 
record, of any public expression, and as space is limited, 
their record must be made in the grateful memory of their 
cotemporaries and descendants. 



SECTION 7. 



MILITARY. 



The Town of Ilopkinton inherited largely the true spirit 
s>f Ibvalty and liherty. 80 long as the Mother coiintry dealt 
upriglitly with the Colonies so long was Ilopkinton true to 
lier allegiance. But when England began to invade the 
rights of the colonies then she as a constituent part of the 
State stood for her rights. 

By a reference to the minutes of a Town Meeting held 
February 10, 1774, to consider a letter from a committee ap- 
pointed by the Town of Newport to inspect into the impor- 
tation of tea into this (VJony by the East India Company 
subject to a duty designed for raising a revenue in America, 
we find the following. 

Voted, that Abel Tanner and Zaccheus Reynolds, Jun., 
Esq. be a committee to correspond with the committee at 
Newport or any other committee that shall be appointed by 
any town in the Colony relating to the above affair and that 
they transmit the resolutions of this town to the committee 
of Newport as soon as may be. 

Voted, by this town meeting that we will, to the utmost 
of our power support the measures entered into by the town 
of Newport. 



44 HISTORY OF HOPKIXTOX. 

Voted^ that this town meeting be adjourned until the 17th 
day of this inst., and that the above committee draw up a 
letter on the above subject and hiy it before said meeting in 
order for approbation. At the adjourned meeting held Feb- 
ruar}" 17th, that committee submitted the following report. 

Grentlemen, on the receipt of your letter together with the 
resolves of 3'our town — our Town Coinicil immediately 
called a town meeting to take your request into consideration 
whereupon they chose us, the subscribers, a committee to 
correspond with you and all other committees on this conti- 
nent and also to signify to you the general opinion of this 
town, viz : That the claim of Parliament to tax America 
without their consent or being represented is a stretch of un- 
limited power, cruel, arbitrary and oppressive and subversive 
of our just rights and privileges which by charter we have 
a right to claim and expect, that the authorizing the East 
India Company to send tea into America subject to a duty 
is implicity taxing of us, if consented to and used among us, 
will draw along with it innumerable evils. Gentlemen, we 
are very sensible of the necessity of an association and firm 
union at so critical a juncture. — a time whose period will de- 
termine the fate of millions. AVe highly approve of the 
measures you have taken in Newport and think it our indis- 
pensable duty to support you in them. Although our situa- 
tion, not being a seaport, renders us less useful in this pres- 
ent cause but we mean not to be silent, nor off our guard, 
beino' confident that this is not the onlv evil we shall suffer 
if subjected to it. We are. Gentlemen, Your real friends 
and humble servants, Ethan Clark, John Maxson, Jr., 
Abel Tanner, Edward Wells, Zaccheus Reynolds, Jr. 

The above letter was approved and the Committee in- 
structed to send a duplicate copy to the committee at Newport 
as soon as may be; and said Committee were continued as a 
standing committee to correspond with the several committees 



HlSTOPvY OF nOPKlNTOX, 45 



jipi»ointcHl by the other towiii^ in this Colony on the above 
subject at any time hereafter as ocoiisiou may require. 

As the confliet with the ^Motlter Country deepene<l. Hop- 
kinton furnished her full (piota («f minute nten and instituted 
a striet inspection into the order of their lire arms and otlier 
accoutrements to see whether they are in repair or not, doubt- 
less believinir that to be forwarned is to he forearmed. 
About this time a Town 3Ieetini^ was called to consider the 
freedom of the iwi^ro slaves in the town and their freedimi 
was decreed ]>y one majority which was afterwards reconsid- 
ered and lost. 

The dreadful note of preparation for war now reverberated 
through the town: and it was 

Voted, in Town ^leetiuii; assembled that Captain Edward 
Wells draw fiftv cartndi»e boxes for the use of the town and 
that the said AVells have at the rate of one-sixth per box for 
making the same, and that said boxes shall hold nine rounds 
each and made in a good plain manner, the covering to be 
sheepskin and the flaps be horseskin and that Maj. Jesse 
Maxson be appointed to view said boxes to see whether they 
are made according to agreement or not. 

The burden of war already began to be juiinfuUy felt and 
provision had to be made for the relief of many families 
whose husbands and brothers had either enlisted or were 
drafted into the Continental Army. 

In the mean time Tories or those who urged acquiescence 
to the oppressive acts of the Mother Country became so of- 
fensive to the Revolutionary party as to require.a strict sur- 
veillance and Committees were appointed to inspect their 
conduct. But the beo-iniiing of the end was at hand — the 
birthday of the Nation drew near. The roaring of the Brit- 
ish Lion resounded in tones of thunder on the shores of 
New Eno-land, the British Armv huno- like a war cloud on 
our horizon. The Revolutionary Patriots quailed not — but. 



46 HISTOKY OF HOPKIXTO.V. 

in the name of the God of battles and of human rights gave 
their istar spangled Ijanner to the winds of Heaven. And 
one hundred years ago to day as the great l)ellin Independ- 
ence Hall in Philadelphia was about to complete its nuerid- 
ian stroke the thirteen united C.^olonies prochiimed them- 
selves an Independent Nation, amid the roaring of cannon^ 
and the joyous acclamations of 3,000.000 of Freemen. Thus 
to day, a century ago Liberty was jnoclaimed throughout 
the land to all the inhabitants thereof. How htting this oc- 
casion standino; as we do in the Centennial birthdav of our 
Itcpublic that, in that City of Brotherly Love where the toc- 
sin of Liberty rang out to the woild that a new Nation had 
been born — that man child of Freedom that was to rule the 
Despots of Kingdoms as with a rod of iron and dash them 
in pieces as with a i)otters vessel, how fitting that that City 
should be the munificent recipient of a worlds progress and 
improvement. And how fitting that tliis Centennial birth- 
day of our Republic should be consecrated by the written 
history of every State, County, and Town in this Common- 
wealth. God save the United States of America. 

To return to the history of Hopkinton. Hopkinton like 
many other towns found it somewhat difficult to raise its quota 
of soldiers, and hence had to resort to oftering of bounties to 
secure their enlistment. The bounty offered was one hundred 
silver dollars by the State, and fifty bushels merchantable 
Indian corn by the town. Hopkinton bore its part manfully 
during the whole of the struggle, until the Independence of 
the Nation was secured in 1787. 

Continuing the history of the war power in this town I 
will now pass down to the war of tlie rebelion. 

The inauguration of Abraham Lincoln, March 4, 1861, was 
made an occasion of the seceding of seven of the ■Southern 
States from the United States Government, and the establish- 
ing of a Southern Confederacy, Avhich on the 12th day of 



HISTORY OF HOPKINTOX. 47 

•April 1861, assumed the positive fonii of rebellion against 
the National Government, by the bombardment of Fort 
Sumpter. On the fifteenth of the same month President 
Lincoln made a call upon the States for seventy-five 
thousand men, to serve three months. Rhode Island ever 
true to the great principles of civil liberty responded to the 
call of the President through Governor Sprague, on the day 
following the call upon the State by the President. The 
first llhode Island Regiment proceeded to Washington in 
two detachments; the first, under Colonel Ambrose E, 
Bnrnsi<le, leaving I*rovidence April 20th, and the second, 
under Lieutenant Joseph 8. Pitman on the 24th. 

The war of the rebellion, which at firet was thought by 
some would be a mere skimiish, proved to be a most serious 
affair. The armed hosts of the contending powers stood 
face to face on the field of battle. Seldom before had the 
world, and never before had this continent witnessed such 
munititions of war. The note of the dreadful preparation 
resounded throughout our country. The nation awaited in 
an agony of suspense the result. The groans of the wounded 
and the wailings of the dying were soon heard, amid those 
scenes of carnage on the gory fields of battle. Among those 
who fell was Davis Crandall, a son of Samuel Crandall of 
Rockville, he was the first soldier killed belonging to this 
town. As a fitting tribute of respect to his memory, the 
town in public town meeting, assembled April 2d, 1862, 
adopted the following preamV>le and resolution : 

^'Whereas, Davis Crandall, a young man and citizen of 
this town, did respond promptly to the call of his country ; 
leaving home and friends to defend the interests we hold so 
dear, and after having gained the confidence of his officers 
and comrades, and suffered much in camp has fallen a 
martyr to the cause of liberty, being killed at Newbern, N. C. 
March 14th, 1862, while charging the enemy, therefore: 



4^ aiSTORY OF HOPKINTOX. 

Besolved, that we deem it onr duty to commend the noble* 
impulse which led him to make this sacrifice for freedom, 
that we honor his patriotism and earnest devotion to onr cause, 
and that we extend to the afflicted faniily of which he was a 
member, our warmest sympathies with the kind assurance 
that we appreciate the noble conduct of this dutiful son." 

The above was as just as it was noble and generous. Tt 
W^as the outburst of. those grand jirinciples of lil)erty which 
has ever found a response in the patriotic bosoms of the sons 
of Hopkinton. 

The forces that were already in the field proving inade- 
quate to the emergency, a call for 300.000 men in addition 
to the 75.000 already in the field was made, and the quota 
that was apportioned to this town by the State was fift\^-nine 
men. I^he response of the town to the call of the President 
was expressed most generously to those brave men who came 
forward and offered themselves a sacrifice on the altar of 
their country, by providing for their families during their 
absence, and offering a bount3^ of $'250 to those who enlisted, 
which was increased to $325 to those who would serve for 
three years, and $300 to those serving nine months. Other 
bounties were offered from time to time, showing that the 
tow^n fully appreciated the services of her soldiers, and tliat 
she stood shoulder to shoulder with the grand army of the 
republic in putting down the rebellion. 

On the 9th day of April, 1865, the army of the rebellion 
laid down its arms and surrendered itself to the demands of 
Gen. Grant, thus closed the war 5 Jefferson Davis lied south- 
ward hoping to escape, but was overtaken at Irwinsville. 
Georgia, captured May 11th, and sent a prisoner to Fortress 
Monroe. This war cost the Union armies 300.000 men who 
w^ere killed in battle, or died from wound and disease, while 
200.000 more were crippled for life. If the Confederate 
armies suffered as heavilv, the countrv lost one million able 



HISTORY OF HOPKINTON. 



49 



1m)(Hc(1 men. The I'liion delit Jaunaiy Is^t, 18G6, was 
^.•^.7o0.000.()00j and at one time its daily expenses was 
-S.'i. 500.000. In all this stnigg-le; this immense expenditnre 
of life and treasure, Ilopkinton not only bore her part, but 
suffered. Out of the iitimber who entered the army nearly 
one-sixth of that number fell on the battle field or died in 
eonsecpience of wounds and exposiu'e. Families were made 
desolate because husbands, ])arents and brothers returned 
not from those battle fields of death. May those honored 
<lead ever be held in sacred remembrance, and those desolate 
homes find a place in the deepest sympathies of our nature 
by every citizen of our town. 

Tiie town of Ilopkinton responded nobly to the call of the 
President. Two hundred and four (:204) brave men bdt 
their homes, enrolled themselves in the army of the republic 
and marched to the field of l>attle; not counting* their lives 
dear unto them while the armed hosts of the reliellion 
imi>eriled the liberties of their country. 

The followins: is a list of the names of the men who enti-rrd 
the service of the United States durins^ the war: 



Allen, Edwin R. 
Austin, Benjamin K. 
Arnold, Joseph G. 
Austin, James H. 

Barber, Gilbert M. 
Barber, Jesse H. (Navy.) 
Barber, Thomas A. 
Barber, Amos P. 
Barber, Thomas J. 
Baaden, Theodore. 
Bellamy George. 
Borden, Thomas B. 
Brown, Thomas W. D. 
Buddington, James E. 
Burdick, Welcome C. 
Burdick, William H. 
Burdick, Joseph W. 
Burdick, Franklin. 
Bai'ber, Matthew S. 
Burton, Joseph C. 



Barber, Israel A. 
Barber. John N. 
Barber, William A. 
Barber, Paul M. 
Bellamy, John. 
Bitgood John. 
Brian, Elisha. 
Browning, George T. 
Buddington, John. 
Burdick, Amos L. 
Burdick, John R. 
Burdick, Orrin R. 
Burdick, Benjamin F. 
Burdick, John P. (Navy.) 
Burton, Sanford. 
Burton, Horace. 
Brown, William. 
Bentley, William. 
Burton, Ephriam 
Burton William G. 
Bowers, Robert. 



50 



HISTORY OF HOPKl^^TON. 



Calvert, William. 
Capwell, Edward C. 
Chadwick, John W. 
Champlin, Stephen C. 
Chester, John H. 
Clarke, Stephen 
Clarke, William H. 
Clarke, William P. 
Collins, Gideon F. 
Collins, Charles, (Navy.) 
Coon, Alphonzo. 
Crandall, Nathan J. 
Cundall, Edward G. 
Crandall, William L. 
Clarke, Bradford. 
Covey, Eugene M. 
Congdon, Oliver H. 
Carmile, William. 
Carmichael, George, Jr, 
Chadwick, Evllyn C. 
Chester, Albert L. 
Church, Benedict G. 
Clarke, Henry. 
Clarke, Leander S. 
Collins, William Tyler 
Collins. Cranston 
Corey, John G. 
Crandall, Davis. 
Cranshaw, Robert. 
Cundall, Isaac. 
Church Norris L. 
Clarke, Joshua M. 
Champlin, William G. 

Davis, Martin. 
Donahue, Barney. 
Dervin, John. 
Donnelly, John. 

Edwards, Nathan P. 
Edwards, James A. 

Floyd, Theodore D. 
Fox, W. Russell. 
Foster, Lawton. 

Gardiner, Nicholas E. 
Gardiner, George W. 
Gardiner, John M. (Navy.) 
Gardiner, Henry C. 
Gardner, Charles S. 
Gates, Hazard R. 



Gavitt, Edwin T. 
Godfrey, Henry H. 
Gorton, Joel B. 
Gray, William R. 
Green, Elisha G. 
Green, John R. 
Green, Jedediah. 
Green, Charles B. 
Green, John S. 
Gunn, William. 
Gotlieb, George. 
Gardiner, Robert E. 
Gavitt, Albert L. 

Harvey, Samuel. 
Hiscox, John T. 
Holdredge, Charles H. 
Hoxie, Leonard C. 
HoUoway, William E. 

Irish, Edgar W. 

Jackson, Daniel B. 
Jackson, William H. 
Jacques, Peleg, (Navy.) 
Johnson, James. 
Johnson, William, Jr. 
Johnson Milton P. 
Johnson, T. Wesley. 

Keech, David. 
Kenyon, Aldrich C. 
Kenyon, James G. 
Kenyon, Abel B. 
Kenyon, John T. 
Kenyon, George C. 
Kenyon, Joseph J. 
Kenyon, Thomas R. 
Kinne, James. 
Keables, Thomas A. 
Keables, Andrew J. 
Keables, Orrin T. 

Lane, George F. 
Langworthy, George W. 
Langworthy, Lucius C. 
Langworthy, George A. 
Langworthy, Thomas S. 
Langworthy, Edmund K. 
Larkin, Asahel G. 
Lawton, John A. 
Lawton, George B. 



HISTORY OF HOPKINTON. 



51 



Lawton, John D. 

Leavens, Lewis. 
Lewis, John D. 
Lewis, George H. 
Lewis, Charles L. 

Maxson, Joel C. 
Monroe, William A. 
Moore, J. Warren. 
Morton, Joseph W. 
McCann, James. 

Nichols, Charles S. 
Nichols, George H. 
Noonen, William. 
Nesbitt, William. 
Newton, Eliiah P. 
Nichols, Charles H. 

Partelow, Charles. 
Partelow, Isaac. 
Palmer, Henry C. 
Palmer, Elisha M. 
Palmer, Thomas P. 
Palmer, William H. 
Palmer, Ephraim M. 
Palmer, Ashur M. 
Pcckham, Peleg E. 
Potter, William C. (Navy. 

Russell, John, 
llichmond, Samuel N. 
Richmond, George A. 
Richmond, Lorenzo D. 
Richmond, Joseph. 
Rathbun, Jason P. 

Saunders, Isaac N. 
Saunders, Heurv F. 



Saunders, Nathan H. 
Sisson, Dudley F. 
Slocum, Judson B. 
Spencer, William I. 
Stillman, Horace. 
Sunderland, William A. 

Taber, Henry W. 
Tanner, Thomas B. 
Tanner, Horace B. 
Taylor, Peter. 
Tabor, William H, 
Thaj'er, Charles, 
Thomas, George A. 
Thomas, .James. 
Tenuant, Benjamin I). 
Tower, John K. 

Vincent, Charles G. 

Weeks, William A, 
Weeks, Jerome. 
Weeden, Richard. 
Wells, George C. 
Wells, Horace. 
Wells, John D. 
Whitman, Stephen jNI. 
AVhipple, Roderick D, 
Woodmansee, Henry T. 
Wood, Albert S. 
Wood, Silas W. 
Wright, James B. 
Wurtien. Benjamin F. 
Worden. William H. 
Wilcox, Henry B. 
Worden, Charles H. 
Wright. Matthew P. 



Tlic following' is a 

killed or who died in 

Austin, Benjamin K. 
Burdick, Welcome C. 
Burdick, Benjamin F. 
Burdick. Joseph W. 
Collins, Gideon F. 
Crandall, Davis. 
Clarke, William P. 
Collins. Charles. 



list of the names of those wlio were 

convSe([nence (d' wosinds and exposure : 

Langworthy, Lucius C. 
Langworthy, Thomas S. 
Lewis, John T. 
Lane, George. 
Maxson, Joel C. 
Peckham, Peleg E. 
Saunders, Isaac N. 
Saunders. Henry F, 



Greene, Charles B, 
Gardiner, Geo, W. 
Gavitt, Edwin D, 
Gunn, William, 
Godfrey, Henry H, 
Greene, Jedediah. 
Jacques, Peleg, 
Kenyou, Joseph J. 
Thomas, George A 



SECTION 8. 



INDUSTRIAL OCCUPATIONS 



AGRICULTURE. — The surface of the town of Hopkiiitoii is 
vongh and stony, at the time of its settlement it was eo veered 
with a growth of stalwart trees, including oak, chestnut, 
walnut, locust and elm. It required indomitable energy as 
W'ell as strong muscles, sinewy arms and powerfni ;^trengtli 
to clear the soil of aged forests. But wiiat cannot man do? 
those sturdy pioneers of hard lal)or an<l muscular religion 
made the woods resound with the heavy 1 flows of their ax(»s, 
and soon let in the sunlight of Heaven upon soil that had 
grown rank beneath tlie umbrageous shadows of tliesc 
primeval forests. 

Although the town oi" Ho|)kinton on account of the rug- 
gedness of its surface is not the best adapted to extensive 
farming, yet there have l>een and still are many valualflc 
farms in the town. In the earlier times some of the planters 
owned very large estates. One Hezekiah Babcock occupied 
eight hundred acres. Farming has been profitable to tiic 
land holder and a source of wealth to the town. To be sure 
the farmers have lia<l to study eccmomy and to lal>or in the 
fulfiluKMit of that ]irimeval curse, or ratliei' blessing, tliat in 
tlie sweat of man's brow lie sliould cat br<'ad, vet tlic cnbiii'c 



niSTOrvY OF HOrKIXTOX. Orj 

draw it about, ask all nianiier of questions concerning it : 
and all sucli as were i)rivileii'ed and lionored 1)V liavinir 
stepped into it, or sat in it, were looked upon a.s wonderfully 
smart. From this inei<lent w<' Avill j)ass to notice carriaii'c 
niakiug iu Hopkintou City. 

In 1846, Augustus L. Wells began to manufacture sleiglis 
and carriages. In 1S51, he took into partnershij) his brother 
Edward, forming the firm of A. L. AV(dls &: Co. The firm 
has ])een very successful in their business. From a small 
beginning it lias expanded into that extensive manufactur- 
ing of carriages of which the city may well be proud. In 
ls(i7, ^Ir. (reorgell. Spicer commenced the business of mak- 
ing and rej)airing carriages, occu})ying the stand where the 
saddle and harness making business had been formerly car- 
ried on by his father, Joseph Spicer. Mr. Spicer's business 
has become quite extensive both in the making of new and 
lepairing of old vehicles. 

The TuiiXPiKE. — In ]f^l.>, a turnpike, connecting Xew 
London and Provi<lence, was laid out, running directly 
ihrough Ilopkinton City. This became the great 'thorough - 
iare of stage travel between Xew York and Boston. ^h\ 
Spicers hotel was the stopping jilace where passengers [)ar- 
took of refreshments, and relays of horses ^^ ere provided. 
To accommodate the amount of travel a number of daily 
stages were necessary. Hence Hopkinton City and Si)icer's 
tavern became widely known. By the running of this turn- 
pike through the metropolis l>oth business and travel were 
drawn away from the anticipated city iu Tomaquag Valley. 
But the introduction of travel by railroads and steand>oats 
fliverted the travel from this then flourishing village, and 
the day of travel by staging on turnpikes was ended. Yet 
Hopkinton City, holding within itself its own resources of 
[)rosperity and growth, has outlived the tremendous odds 
that were against it, and, by the indomitable energy, per- 



fj6 HISTORY OF HOPKIXTOX. 

Heveraiice and iiiiliit*try of itir* men of huHiness^ has never 
known the word "' fail.'' 

A.HHAWAY. — Tlik village takes* its name from tlie Asli- 
rtway I'iver^ winch meander*^ thronj^h the valley and empties 
into the Pawcatnck river jui^t Ixdow l?otter Hill. One 
Imndred years ago. or thereaV)ont^ a n}an named Simpson 
was the onlv hlacksmith in the vieinitv of what is now the 
villaiTc of Ashawav, His shop was on the west side of the 
river, and was kept np until about the year 1800, when 
Daniel Babcock established himself in th(> business, and 
erected a shop east of the river, near where the residence of 
A. A. Palmiter now stands. He carried on this business 
for some thirty or more years, doing general job work, horse 
and ox shoeing, &c., his sons Daniel. Jr., and Oliver at 
this time purchased a shop that had been built and occupied 
for a number of years by Mr. Nathan l*otter, which was 
located on the Hopkinton side of the Pawcatuck river at 
Potter Hill. They worked in this shop about forty years, 
making use of water power to do their forging, and by their 
skill and industry acquired for themselves a good name and 
abundant fortunes. Since the time, some years ago, that 
Daniel Babcock, Sr., gave up the business, a shop has been 
kept ojien on the west side of the river, at Ashawav, by ]\Ir, 
Wm. C. Burdick, for general job work. The industrial in- 
terests of Ashaway village, and its adjuncts, are invested 
largely in maiuifacturing. The precise date when the first 
factory was built has not been definitely ascertained. Mr. 
Isaac Cundall came there in 1816. At that time there was 
a factory 30x36 feet, two stories high, standing near where 
the present one is located at the west end of the bridge. 
It was owned by Ira Beynolds and the heirs of Sheffield 
Wells and used for the manufacture of narrow woolen goods ; 
the carding being done by water po^^•er, while the spinning 
and weaving were done by hand. The whole water power 



nisTORr OF iiorKiXTox. 57 

was only for tlio driving of one pair of h^ingle cards in the 
Jiiaimfactnrt' of those goods. Siicli was tlie incipient state 
of inanufaetniing in 1816, l»Ht wliieli lias ex}>anded into the 
large, cainieions building now ocrujning the place of that 
little factory. In }^U), ^Ir. Peleg Almy. of rortsniouth. 
hoMght, at public auction, KeynohVs part of the mill and his 
house for fourteen hundrcfl dollars. In 1828, ^Ir. .Vliuy 
.S(dd this half of the pro[)erty to ^[r. Jacob D. P)abcock, his 
son-in-law. The dwelling house was the one now owned by 
the heirs of ^Ir. llabcock. In 1821, this was the only house 
in the village. Xot long after, the property was divided. 
Air. Habcock taking the east part of the mill, grist mill and 
the east dam ; whih' to ALr. ( "iindall was left the west dam, 
half the factory, and the largest |>art of the machinery. In 
18 1(3, the mill was destroyed by lire. In June of the same 
year, the present structme, 3 1x82 feet, 3^ stones high, was 
erected. Campbell ^' ("o.. of AVesterly, occupied one half 
of it for the manufacture of woolen goods, and 8. & I). 
Suiith the other }>art, for several years, when T. R. Wells 
c\: Co. hired the whole. This mill is now operated }»y the 
Ashaway Manufacturing Company. 

Bethel. — In 1816, a small building was put up at Bethel 
and occupied l>v Mr. William Arnold for the manufacture of 
scythes, who continued the business for several years, when 
Mr. Zebulon Stillman came in possession of the property 
and used the l)uilding and power for making and repairing 
of wagons. In 1829, J. IJ. Babcock bought the property, 
enlarged the building and operated three turning lathes, &c., 
in the manufacturing of carding machines. After a few 
years, Mr. Bowse Babcock and John Knowles rented the 
premises and manufactured yarn, putting the weaving out 
among the farmers wives and daughters. In 1848, the mill 
was burned. The present factory was immediately built. 
It is 32 feet wide, 79 feet long, with basement, two stories 
8 



58 HISTORY OF HOPKINTOX. 

and attic. This mill was rented by Messrs. Aslier Bal)cock 
and Welcome Stillman, who filled it with machinery and 
manufactured woolen goods. 

At Laureldale there is another mill for the manufac- 
turing of woolen or cotton goods. This mill stands on the 
east side of the river. Directly oj>posite, on the west bank 
of the river, stand the extensive line works of II. L. Cran- 
dall & Co. The manufacture of lines was commenced in 
1827, by Mr. Lester Crandall, one of tlic lionored citizens 
of this town, well known as an enterprising business man ; 
also a temperance, anti-slavery and Chnstian man. He 
died February 1st, 1876. 

Hope Valley. — As early, if not earlier than 1778, Hope 
Valley was settled by one Hezekiah Carpenter. He became 
the proprietor of that section of land. Mr. Carpenter built 
the first dam on that stream of water near where the present 
one now is, and erected works at that place known for years 
by the name of Carpenters Mills or Middle Iron AYorks. 
His establishment consisted of a saw mill, grist mill, fulling 
mill, and carding machine. He lived on what is called the 
Ray farm lying in a westerly direction from the village. In 
1778, Carpenter gave to his daughter and her husband Par- 
don Crandall, the tract of land now occupied by the village 
ot Hope Valley and a portion of the village of Locustville. 
Durinof the same vear Mr. Crandall built the house now 
owned by the heirs of widow Sarah Arnold. 

In 1810, there were but two houses in this village. In 
that year John Godfrey, Godfrey Arnold, Gorton W. Arn- 
old and others purchased the larger portion of this tract, to- 
gether with the mills, and in the following 3^ear built the 
third house there, which is known as the '' big house." In 
1812 they built the Arnold mill on the Richmond side 
of the river from lumber sawed at their mill. The machin- 
ery of the Crandall mill, on the Hopkinton side of the 



niSTOUY OF UOPKINTOX. 59 



river, was made from iron laaiiiifactured at Brand's Iron 
Works. 

Tlic water privilen'e and mill upon the llopkinton side 
after eliani^ing hands several times^ in Mareh 1824 
heeame tlu' property of Captain Gardner Nichols and Russell 
Thayer. Tlie mill at this time was seventy feet long, sixteen 
\'vi'i wide, and two stories high. ^fr. Thayer engaged in card- 
xmr wool and fnlling and finishing cloth, quite an extensive 
and lucrative business at that time. Captain Nichols com- 
incnced making tools for the manuiacture of woolen machin- 
tiv. Here was the commencement of that establishment 
wliich lias been enlarged to that extensive building known 
as the machine shop of Nichols &: Langworthy, the pride and 
ornamcJit of the village. In 1824 there were but six houses 
in the })lace. It is but due to Mr. Gardner Nichols who is 
now among the oldest inhabitants of the town, that we ex- 
press our appreciation of his mechanical genius as well as 
rhat of his copartners, and the firm's untiring industry and 
jtnulential management of their business by which they have 
secured success. It should be added that in the tower that 
lises from the top of this building is suspended a belief such 
sweet and fine intonation that the ear is charmed with its 
music whenever it is rung. In connection with this bell 
there is a clock of such nice adjustment that it varies not a 
second in its measurement of time. The first looms ever 
built in this town (six in number) were commenced in the 
spring of 1826, and completed the same year by Captain 
Nichols, for William A. & Edward Robinson of Wakefield, 
and this was the first order for machinery that the firm re- 
ceived. In 1835, ^Ir. Thayer sold out to Josiah W. & 
Joseph Langw^orthy and the firm of Nichols & Langworthy 
(machinists) was formed. In 1837, Nichols & Langworthy 
built the stone mill 70^x35 and two stories high. The up- 
per storv was rented to Messrs. John Olney & J. P. Arnold 



60 HISTORY OF IIOPKIXTOX. 

for the manufacture of cotton cloth, and the lower story was 
used for a machine shop. The firm of Nichols & Langwortliy 
continued the manufacture of cotton and woolen machinery 
until ahout the year 18.33, when they engaged in the manufac- 
ture of printing presses. In 1869, they completed thelrpres- 
ent brick shop, :240x6-5 feet, with wing 40x00, which they 
tilled with new and improved tools and machinery. During 
this same year they commenced the building of steam en- 
gines and boilers, in which they have been very successful. 
The number of hands employed in this establishment, when 
in full operation, is 150. In ^lay, 1870, the firm completed 
and shipped two steam yachts, one for the Centennial exlii- 
bition and the other for excursions on Saratoo-a Lake. The 
dimensions of these yachts were o:2xSx32^. Capt. Gardner 
Nichols, the senior member and founder of the firm in 1835, 
was eiglity-one years old the 19th of March, 1876, and still 
continues a member of the firm, having filled that position 
for a period of forty-one years. To-day, he stands before 
us as one of the most aged business men in the town, with 
a character and reputation unblemished, unspotted and un- 
sullied ; and though somewhat weakened by the intirmity 
of years, he is a welcome and joyful participant in this Cen- 
tennial c elebration . 

Right here, as well as elsewhere, it may be well briefly to 
notice biographicalh' Welthan Godfrey, the widow of John 
Godfrey. She was one of the early proj)rietors of the vil- 
lage of Hope Valley, and is still a resident of the same, 
havino" resided there about seventv vears. She was born in 
Warwick, June 1781, and came to Hope Valley with her 
husband and children in the winter of 1810. She has 
always kept house, did her own work, and is in the enjoy- 
ment of ffood health. Few such instances of lono*evitv will 
celebrate this Centennary anniversary. Mrs. Welthan (Jod- 
frey is the oldest person (with one exception, Burdick Ken- 



HISTORY OF nOPKIXTOX. 61 

yon at Ashvillc, who is 9G) m the town, she being 9-3 this 
passing June, 

Id connection with tins hiographv. it n»ay l>e well to men- 
iio]i ail iuciih'ut in the life of the late Jedediah Kenyon. 
aiiotlier of our aged townsmen, who has just passed away 
from amoug us, and become a deni/cn (»f that city whose 
inhabitants never sicken or die but ever live in immortal 
youth. Mr. Kenyon said that w lieu he was a boy he used 
to come from his fatiier's (wh<» lived where ^Ir. Thomas 
Wright now resides) down to Car]»enter's mill, through the 
woods, by means of marked trees, there ])eing no roads. 
^V('1I might such pioneers, when in their old age they take 
their de}>artnre from such scenes of progress and growth as 
they have witnessed and nide<l during their earth life, ex- 
(daim : " Now lettest thou thy servant depart in pea<M' for 
juine cyci^ have seen thy salvation.'' 

Al>out the year 1820 the Providence and Xew London 
Turnpike was com})lete(l. It ran directly through the vil- 
lages of L;)Custvillo and Brand's Iron Works, now Wyoming 
connectino- New London and Providence bv a direct stao-e 
route which was the ffreat thorouo'hfare of travel between 
those places and further east to Boston. Many of the pres- 
'ent inhabitants can well remember when the stages thundered 
along the road, rolling up clonds of dust, at the rapid rate of 
three to four miles an hour. A Inxnrions mode of travel- 
ing that but fe\v except the wealthy could indnlge in. 

Xovember 1st, 1866, a new era was commenced in the 
historv of this villas^e and this town. ^Mr. L. W. A. Cole 
started a Printing Press. January 6th, 1876 the Wood 
River Advertiser, the first newspaper published in the 
town, was issued by ]\Ir. Cole. July 1st, 1874, the first reg- 
ular train commenced runnino- over the Wood River Branch 
Railroad, since which time the steam whistle is heard several 
times daily announcing the departure and arrival of the 



62 HISTORY OF HOI'KIXTOX. 

trains. As early probably as the yoar 1803-4 the maiiufac- 
ture of iron at the upper or Brand's Iron Works also at the 
Middle Iron Works and also at ihc Lower Iron Works was 
somewhat extensively earned on and continued for quite a 
iiurnher of years more or less profita))le to the )iiannfaeturers. 
A)>ont the year 1818 Joshua Godfrey built a tannery on 
the lot now occupied l>y the Ivaihoad Depot where tannerin*^ 
and currying' was first earned on by James Hazard. In 1832 
Nathan F. Chipnian moved inti^ this vicinity and forming- 
a copartnership with Arnold Iliscox connnenced the ukuiu- 
facture of leather at tlx' above named place. After a few 
years this company dissolved. Soon after^ Mr. (^hipman 
purchased a spot of land adjoining- the })resent sash and 
hlind factory now owned by Benjamin P. Langworthy, on 
which was a buildim^ and also a water power and privilege. 
On this site he built a tannery where he carried on an exten- 
sive manufacture of leather until 1860^ Avhen^ on aci-ount of 
a paralytic affection, he was obliged to discontinue the busi- 
ness. His decease took place in 1872. In passing, it is 
hut just to say, as a tribute of respect to the inemory of 
ACr. Chipman, that he enjoyed tlie confidence of the com- 
munitv as a man of husiness. The tanning and currviug 
business was continued by his son Nathan T. Chipman, 
until 1873, when it was discontinued altogether in the town. 
For several years this establishment was the only tannery 
in oix'iation in this iState, outside of Providence. 

LocusTViLLE. — The first dam and mill at this place was 
built in the year 1814, on Brushy Brook, by Gorton W. 
iVrnold, and was superintended by John Batcheler This 
mill, which was very small at first, was enlarged about the 
year 1820, by Jonathan Hazard. In 1844 or '45, it was 
burned down, being then owned by the heirs of Charles 
Low, of Providence. It was soon replaced by a larger mill, 
which was destroyed by fire in October, 1865. In 1806, a 



HISTORY OF HOPKIXTOX. 63 

liirire and commodious Inick building was erected l)v Messrs. 
William R, Greene & Co., and is now operated by that firm. 
The first mill was used lV»r tiie manufacture of woolen ami 
the others for cotton i^oods. 

BAunERViLLE. — Prior t(« the year 1829, Lillibridge Bar- 
ber gave to his i^randson, Joseph T. Barber, a tract of land 
near the center of which, in 1829, Joseph T. Barber built a 
dam and saw mill, and thus commenced the village of Bar- 
biTvillc. This mill was enlarged at different times and at 
length was c<»n verted into a carnage factory. Somewhere 
abitut the year 1831 or '35, Edw. and Thos. T. Barber built 
the first top carriage made in the town. In 1840, the riian- 
ufacture of C(»tton yarn was commenced here. The original 
mill was built in the pine woods, nearly half a mile from 
«*leared land, and the story is told that Joseph Barber once 
<'ut a favorite pine tree belonging to his grandfather without 
his consent, which so aroused the wrath of the old gentle- 
man that in a voice of thunder he said: ^' If Joseph wants 
pine trees he shall have them;" and immediately inflicted a. 
Hnm\aavy2)u >iishmefif hy deeding to him the whole tract. 
In 1856, Messrs. John T. Sheldon & Co. purchased Barber- 
ville, madi extensive repairs and continued the manufacture 
of cotton goods until the 30th of August, 1869, when the 
mill, while in full operation, was burned. 

Bkaxds Ikon Works. — In 1845, Mr. Pardon Olney 
erected a mill at Brand's Iron AYorks, now known as Wyom- 
ino-. This mill was first used for the manufiicture of shin- 
gles. It was subsequently enlarged and converted into a 
cotton mill. In December, 1875, it was burned and has not 
been rebuilt. 

RocKViLLE. — The manufacturing interests of Rockville 
are largely dependent on water power to run their machinery. 
The water is furnished principally by two ponds, known as 
Yahorouofe, Yowofooof, or Yow<:»"hofhouo-h (neither mav be the 



64 iir.sToiiv OF jioriviXTo.v, 

correct orthoo^iupliy. or eitLer may be) and AViiiehook ; the 
latter receiving tbe water of the former^ uinl altH) that of 
^Tras^y pond. The water ol" (Jra^i^y pond is^ carried hy a 
condnit^ turning it IVoin its }iat?iral cliannel, into Yaligonge, 
Further back than tlic ineioory <>i' the oldest inhabitant rnn- 
eth, there wan a haw mil] at the dutU't of Vaii,i;"onge pond, 
but the fall in now used for a reservoir for tlie accomnioda- 
tion of tlie liockviUe ^Manufacturing ronipany; and tlie 
rock has been channe]e<l «o an to h'ave Yahgouge pond 
h>wer than the natinal drauglit, wliih* tlie dam has Iteen 
raised higher, thu^ making a valualile ntorage of water 
against a dry season. Antedating any known records, millf^ 
for a variety of uses were erected near the outlet of Winch- 
ook ]>ond. Among them were two saw mills, a grist mill, 
an oil null and shingle mill, and a carding and fulling mill. 
The last was owned by Elisha. father of Harris Lanphear, 
The oil mill was btirned more than sixty years ago. Below 
the oil mill, and nearly in front of the jjresent hoarding 
house, wa8 a factory built by a stock eompany, and first 
inn by Lewis, father of Klijah Kenyon, Mr. K. manufac- 
tured f*atinettt^, carded wool and dressed cloth, as custom 
Svork for the surrounding inhabitants. In the lower room of 
his factory, O, 31. Htillman manufactured his celebrated 
temples and other macdiinery. The factory changed owners 
on several oeeasions and was run at times on hire. Among 
the owners were Ihnlingaim & Cross, Ezra Stillman and 
Asahel Lanphear. The latter was the inventor of the king 
spinner, while living in Uockville. Oliver AVells subse- 
([uently purchased the factory and during his ownership it 
Was burned. Th<' u))per stone factory was commenced in 
1844 and was opened for spinning in August 184'5. fbniug 
the following autumn thirty-two looms were put in and lun. 
T'he Aveave shop was l)uilt in ISol for a dye house and 
beaming room l»ut was subsequently clianged to a weave 



HISTORY OF HOPKIXTOX. 65 

lollop and dressing room. In the second story there are now 
ninety-six looms, and in tlie lower story are two sets of dres- 
sing- apparatus and otljer macliinery. Tlie bnilder of the 
cditice was Henry Champlin, of Westerly. In 184G, a 
cliurch was built a shoit distance north of the village, on 
the east side of the road leading to Exeter, hut in 1868 it 
was moved on to its present location east of the village. 

Cextkkvillk. — In 1846, T. T. & K. Barber erected a 
l)nilding, 84x24 feet and three stories high. Tlie building- 
was subsecpiently sold to James C. liaker and Alanson Bar- 
l)er who stocked it with machinery. After the building of 
the mill, a road was opened eastward, now crossing the pond 
1vin<>' on either side of it. That factorv was struck bv 
lightning and bm'ned. The })resent factory was begun in 
J 86-3 by (\ ^laxson & Co., Harris Lanjihear and Alva A. 
Crandall ; but before it was completed, it was })urchased 
l»y the Rockville Manufacturing Company, and is still run 
by the company, operating sixty-eight looms. 

^Moscow. — 'i'he factory here was built by Wm. L. Rich- 
mond in 1847. After changing owners several times, it was 
])urchased by T. R. Wells, of Ashaway. In August 1876, 
it was set on fire by an incendiary and entirely consumed. 

Bankixo, — The first V)ank chartered in Hopkinton was 
at Ashaway in 1855. By request, the present cashier, Mr. 
( reorge X. Langworthy, has kindly furnished the following 
relative to the 

Asliaivay Bank. — Early in the summer of 1855, the pro- 
[>osition to organize a bank in the village of Ashaway, was 
set afoot, and on June 25th, 1855, there \\as a meeting 
called in the counting room of T. R. Wells & Co. Jona- 
than R. Wells was elected President, and Jonathan L. 
Spencer engaged as Cashier, with instsuctions to be ready 
for business, July 9, 1855. In the latter part of November 
the bank building was completed. The first dividend of 
9 



66 HISTORY OF HOPKIXTOX. 

$2 per share was declared payable on and after the first day 
of Angust, 1856. On Jnly 9, 1860, ^Ir. 8pencer tendered 
his resia'iiation as Cashier and Nathan K. Lewis was elected 
in his stead. On the 8th of December, 1864, the President, 
J, It. AVells, was removed l>y death, and at the meeting oi' 
the Directors, held Decenil)er 19, 1864, Mr. John S. Champ- 
lin was elected President, which office he now occupies. In 
JMarch 1865, steps were taken for the conversion of the bank 
into the national svstem, and the final transfer of its property 
and estate was ordered August 7, 1865. Mr. N. K. Lewis 
continued his duties as Cashier until July 26, 1869, when, 
having tendered his resignation as Cashier, it was accepted. 
George X. Langworthy was elected Cashier on tlie 27tli of 
September, 1869, which office he still holds, 

Hopiyuifon Sarirtr/s Banli. — This bank was organized 
on the 5tli of July in 1870, The deposits, as per report 
of 1876, amounted to §239,909.59 collectively. 

First National Bank of Hopkinton. — The following, by 
request, is from Mr, J. B, Potter, the Cashier of this insti- 
tution : This bank was organized February 13, 1865 ; Direc- 
tors : Amos C4, Nichols, David L. Aldrich, Thomas T. 
Hoxsie, Edward Barber, Pardon K. Tefft, Samuel Phillips. 
George H. Olney, AVilliam K. Greene and Barber Keynolds. 
Amos G. Nichols was elected President ; William R. Greene 
Vice President ; and Joseph B. Potter Cashier. It com- 
menced the regular business of banking May 2d, 1865; 
capital stock §100,000. It has paid the stockholders, up to 
July 1st, 1876, 899,500 in dividends, and has a surplus of 
S12,512.35, . Amos G. Nichols has held the office of Presi- 
dent from the beo'inninof, William R, Greene held the office 
of Vice President until May 17, 1875, when he resigned, 
and Anson Greene was elected, and still holds the office, 
Joseph B. Potter has been Cashier from the first organiza- 
tion until now. Since the bank started, burglars have, at 



HISTORY OF HOrKIXTOX. 67 

three <liffereiit times, attempted to break open ami rob the 
l>aiik in the niii'ht time, luit without vsuccess. 

I'kopeuty A'aluatiox. — The following is from an old 
account book : Total valuation of })roperty in the town^ in 
179;3, .S20S,319. 

Pos'i' < )fki('j:. — The subjoined h*ttei- is self-explanatory: 
Post Office Department, 

A P P O I X T M E X T OFFICE, 

Washixgtox, D. C, Dec. 9, 187G. 
S. S. Giiswolcl, Ilopkinton, Washington County, R. I. 

Sir: T am in receipt of your late letter, desiring to be 
lurnished Avitli a l)rief liistory of the post offices in your 
township, and in compliance with your rerpiest, 1 append 
herewith such information as can conveniently be o1)tained. 
The f^re^vhicll consumed the post office Iniilding in Decem- 
ber, 183G, entindy destroyed several of the earliest record 
l)Ooks of this office, but, )>y the ledger books of the Audi- 
t<u-'s Office, it is ascertained tliat the office of Hopkinton 
began to render accounts 'on tlie 1st of July, 1811. The 
exact day on which the office was estal)lislied is not known, 
but proba]>ly during tlie spring of 1811, as the postnuister 
must have done some ])0stal business prior to making his 
(piarterly returns. The IVdlowing comprises a history of each 
office, as found on tlie books of the department, to wit : 

Hopliiiiton, AVashington County, R. T. Office probably 
establislied in the winter or spring of 1811. Jeremiah 
Thurston (first postmaster) rendered accounts 1st July, 1811. 
(leorge Thurston. . .Appointed postmaster 30tli June, 1814 
(leorge Thurston, Jr. '' '' 7tli April, 1819 

Francis B. Segar... '' '^ 12tli Feb., 1828 

Joseph Spear, Jr " '' 14th Aug., 1829 

Jesse Brown " '^ ' 21st June, 1841 



68 HISTORY OF HOPKINTOX. 

Joseph Spicer Appointed postmaster, 23rd Sept., 185 1 

Jesse Brown ^^ '^ 12th Dec, 1849 

Henry Whipple " " 28th May, 1850 

John ^y. Foster '' " 14th Oct., 1857 

Wilkrd H. Brown.. '' " 13th June, 1873 

who is the present incumbent. 



Asliawcuj, Washington County, R. I. Office established 
on the 26th of April, 1852. 

Lyman Kenyon Appointed postmaster 26th April, 1852 

Isaac Cundall " " 14th Dec, 1852 

Oliver B. Irish '' '' 27th July, 1861 

George B. Carpenter. ^' " 18th Jan., 1866 

Miss Josephine Austin " " 5th Dec, 1872 

Alfred B. Burdick, 2d " '' 14th April, 1873 

Miss Sarah F. Blake '' " 21st March, 1874 
who is the present incumbent. 

HojJe Valley, A\^ashington County, R. I. Office established 
on the 2nd of May, 1864. 

John G. Arnold- .- -Appointed postmaster 2nd May, 1864 
who is the present incumbent. 

Bockvllle, AVashington County, R. I. Office established 
on the 15th of February, 1849. 

Hiram Arnold Appointed postmaster 15th Feb., 1849 

Perry B. Maxson. . . '' " 3d June, 1852 

Jonathan L. Spencer ^^ " 8th Jan., 1855 

Benjamin Kenyon .. . '^ " 16th Nov., 1861 

Albert S. Babcock.. '' '' 19th May, 1874 
who is the present incumbent. 

WoodviUe, Washington County, R. I. Office established 
on the 13th of December, 1853. 

Jonathan T. Hoxie.. Appointed postmaster 13th Dec, 1853 

John W. Hoxie '' " 28th June, 1854 



HISTORY OF HOPKIXTOX. 69 

Asaliel X. Ken von . . Appointed postmaster, 25tli Sept., 1856 
William C. Stanton. '' " 13tli March, 1862 

William C. Palmer. " " 20tli Oct., 1864 

Sanders Sisson ^^ '^ loth Jan., 1868 

Joseph F. Baggs '' " 16th Nov., 1874 

who is the present incumbent. 

The foregoing lists are believed to \)e correct, and each 
postmaster held the office up to the appointment of his 
successor. I am, sir, respectfully vour ob't serv't, 

James H. Mark, 
Actinir y'n-^t Ass't P. M. Gejieral. 



SECTION 9. 



ECCLESIASTICAL. 



CliritcH ►SoriETiKs. — 8al>l»;itariaii S(>iitimeiits wav first 
Lrouo-lit from Kng'land to tliis coiiiUry by Stcplicii Mnni- 
Ibrd, ill 1()()4, uiid intiodnccd to tlic First Baptist Clnnvli, 
ill Newport, from wliicli the HabbatariuiiH seceded and in 
1671 organiz/cd tlie Urst Habhatarian clinrch in .Vnierica. 
A few ineniber!^ from tliiei cLnreb reinoved to Westerly aii(] 
tlierc org'anized a cbtindi, the first in tlie town. The organ- 
ization was foniH'fl u hell the town numbered but .>80 inhab- 
itants in I'/OS, under Jlev. John Maxson, Senior, as Pastor, 
'iMiis church still exists as flic first Hojikinton Seventh Day 
P>aiJtist cliurch. 

AVith tlie settlement of Mnnrpiamacutt, a braucli of the 
Newport 8. 1). 1). clmrch was there established, with John 
Crandall, a '^Conservator (»f the Peace" as preaclier and 
ehler. In 1708, this braindi, which had been planted in 
the wilderness, became a church of itself, and was known as 
the "Westerly Church.'" At the date of the incorporation 
of the twwn of Hopkinton, Mai'ch 11, 1757, it was the only 
church in the town and its membership embraced a majority 
of the residents of the new town. It then l)ecame known 
as "the Church of iropkinton and places adjacent." At this 
time a large portion of the menil)ership were residents of 
Westerly and other towns. Later it becanu^ known as tlie 
"S. 1). B. Clmrch of Hopkinton," and when other chui-ches 



HISTOKY OF HOPKINTUX, 'J'l 



i-anic to be organized from it, in tlie same town, it reeeivevl 
its present name. Present membersliip of tlie cluurli. 394. 
The Second Seventh Day P>aptist Chiurli was coustitiitcd 
January 7tlu 1^3-"), l.y Ehler Mattliew Stillman. Then- 
were fortv-six hretliren and sisters who entered into coven- 
ant relations, 

Jnlv 24, 183.>. the Tliird v^eventh Day r.ai)tist Church of 
Hoplvinton was organi/ed at Rockvilh'. 

January 19th, 1843, a Seventh Day T.aptist Churcli was 
orii'.anized at Woodville. 

'IMie First Baj)tist elinreh of llopkinton was or^-anized on 
the 2()th day of October, 1834, with twenty-three members. 
Previous to that year there was no sucli distinct cliurch or- 
ganization in Hopkinton City. 

A Second First Day Baptist church was constituted at 
Looistville December 21st, 1841, with eighteen members, 
mostly from the First liaptist church located at Hopkinton 

City.' 

The First Second Advent Church of Hopkinton ^\as or- 
o-anized in the Autumn of 186G, with a membershii) of seven 
which was soon increased to twenty. The ])resent mend)er- 
ship is about forty. 

The First Metliodist Episcopal Clnu'ch was organized in 

184-3. 

Less than a mile west from Hopkinton City there are two 
Friends meeting houses. Previous to the visit of Joseph 
John Gurney, of England, to this country, the no\\- two 
societies of Friends were united in one congregation, hold- 
in o- their meeting's in the house now the most westerly. At 
this time the society divided, one party under the leadership 
of John Wilbur, a prominent minister of their denomina- 
tion and an honored and worthy citizen of our town. The 
other party were called Gurneyites. This society seems to 
be in a flourishinii- condition. 



12 HISTORY OF HOPKINTOX. 

Public Schools. — The following is from tlie report of 
the Superintendent of schools in Hopkinton^ l)repared for 
the Centennial exhibition: 

^' The cause of education received the early support of 
the first settlers of Hopkinton j audit may be appropriate 
to consider briefly the development of this cause from its 
beginnings up to its culmination in the present system of our 
Common Schools. 

Educational Facilities hcforc Establishutent of Public 
Schools. — The facilities for education before the establish- 
ment of public schools were few. At iirst private schools 
were kept in unoccupied rooms of dwelling houses, accom- 
modated with rude fixtures, not the most convenient. With- 
in tlie bare walls of these cold but well ventilated school- 
rooms were gathered the children, the youth, and the full- 
<>Town vouno' men and women, with their Testaments, Dil- 
worth's Spelling Book and Arithmetic, Murray's Third Part, 
slate and pencil, and two sheets of foolscap, goose quill, 
and ink bottle. Tu the midst of these groups of rustic 
scholars stood the schoolmaster, ferrule in hand, ready to 
rule their writing paper, or spat the hand of tlie disobedient. 
The three sciences commencing with an 'R,' 'Veadin, ritin, 
and rithmetic,' constituted their curriculum of study. Yet, 
with all these disadvantages, many obtained a good practi- 
cal education. To read the Testament, to write a fair, large 
hand, to cast ' interest,' and to ' cipher as far as the Rule of 
Three ' in Daboll's Arithmetic, was the ' ultima thule ' of 
scholarship in those days. 

Such were the facilities, and such Avas the result, prior to 
the appropiiation by the State of money for Public Schools. 
And yet mau}^ still believe, that under that system of dis- 
advantages more practical beneflt was gained than under 
the present. Most children went to school then to leani ; 
and as they had to i)ay their tuition, that became a strong 



L 



HISTORY OF HOPKINTOX. 73 

incentive to improve their time to tlie best advantage. And 
nuist it not be confessed that, when the facilities of those 
days are compared Mith those of the present, the verdict will 
be more favorable to the former than to tlie latter ? Theji 
tlie cost of scliooling enhanced its valne, and forbade the 
idling of time ; while now the very opposite seems to pre- 
vail. Then only the substantials of education were taught, 
wliik^ now the substantials often give place for the mere 
ornamental. Then the stern rui»"ii-edness of New En^'land, 
that re(piired indomitable toil and untiring perseverance, was 
well cah'ulated to grow men and women, even from such a 
soil, wliik' the easy circumstances of to-day tend to efFemin- 
acy and indolence. 

►Such were the e<lucational opportunities for obtaining 
knowledge prior to the establishment of the Public Schools. 

EstaUishment of the Puhlk Schools. — Public Schools were 
first established in this town in the year 1828. Previous to 
this time most of the sclxxds were held in ])nva1e houses, 
and all were sustained by private contributions. As an 
evidence of the interest the inhabitants had in the cause of 
education, five school-houses had been built prior to the ap- 
})ropriation of money by the State for school purposes. Up 
to this time the town had not been divided into districts. 

The following is taken from the records of the first School 
Committee, by which it Avill be seen that the first School 
Committee was probably appointed at the town meeting in 
June, 1828 : 

' At a meeting of the School Committee, holden within 
and for the town of Hopkinton, on the 7th day of July, in 
the year 1828. 

Members present, viz : Eld, Matthew Stillman, James 
Wells, Edward Barber, Isaac Collins, Jesse Brown, Xathan 
Lillibridge, Peleg Maxson, Jonathan X. Hazard, Daniel L. 
10 



74 HISTORY OF HOPKINTOX. 

Laiig'wortliy, George H. Perry, and Chrii!*toj)lier 0. Lewis. 
(Elngaged.) 

Voted, that Eld. Matthew Stillinan be and be is hereby 
appointed President of the Committee for the year ensuing. 

Voted, that Christopher C. Lewis be Secretary of the 
Committee for the year ensuing-. 

Voted, that this Committee proceed to divide the town 
into suitable school districts, without reference to the school 
houses which are now built. 

Voted, that this meeting be and the same is hereby a<l- 
journed to the third IMonday in September next, at this 
place, (Joseph Spicer's Inn,) at 10 o'clock A. M. 

Witness, Chkis'r C. Lewis, Secretary.' 

At the adjourned meeting, Sept. 15, 1828, the Committee 
proceeded to divide the town into 11 districts, which number 
was subsequently increased to 13. 

From the record of a still further adjourned meeting, we 
find that Eld. Amos R Wells, Christopher C. Lewis, and 
Jesse Brown, were the first Committee appointed to examine 
candidates for teaching in the public schools, and the follow- 
ing named persons were the first who were authorized or 
certificated by said examining Committee to teach in the 
Public Schools, during the winter of 1828-9 : 

Dist. No. 1. Nathan York, Jr. Dist. No. 6. Amos R. Wells. 

2. Joseph Crandall. " '' 7. Harriet Ware. 

3. David Stillman,Jr. '^ ^' 8. George Newton. 

4. John T. Paine. " '' 9. Amos W.Collins. 

5. Latham Hull, Jr. '' '' 10. Thos. R. Holden. 

Dist. No. 11. Christopher Brown. 

From the further records of the School Committee, we 
find that the first apportionment of money from the State 
for school purposes Avas in the year 1828, and that the amount 
appropriated to this town was $329.80. 



a 


u 


u 


iC 


ii 


a 


li 


a 



HISTORY OF HOPKIXTOX. 75 

Here then, in 18:28, was the comniencenient of thi^t sys- 
tem of public schoals, with an ap[)i(»i>riation from the State 
of only -8329.80, and with such incipient aiTangenients as 
were necessarily subject to great future cliangCvS, which has 
now expanded into s.ich large proportions, that the State now 
ai)}tropriates annually more than $1,500, while the town 
raises an ecpial amount for the sam.' purpose, ami the Dis- 
tiicts raise, in addition to the above amounts from the State 
and town, annually from $2,000 to $3,000. Justice demands 
tliat a tribute of respect be i)aid to tliose honorable and 
honored names, who composed the first Scliool Committee, 
an<l the sub-committee for examining teachers. The mem- 
ory of Eld. MattluMv Stillinan and Ehl. Amos K. AVells is 
yet fragrant witli tlie ricli perfume t>f the gospel ministry ; 
that of Christopher C. Lewis, as the hontu'ed Town Clerk 
for over forty years ; th;it of Jesse Brown, as a worthy citi- 
zen, magistrate, and postmaster ; that of George H. Perry 
as a skillful physician, and worthy deacon of tlie Seventh- 
day Baptist Churcli in Ilopkinton City. The otlier members 
of tliat honorable School Committee, though not as publicly 
known, expressed the wise selection of the town in their 
appointment to that important office ; while every teacher of 
the present day will sympathize with those jiioneer school 
masters who first passed tlie fiery ordeal of examination 
unscathed and unscorched. 

Tlicu' Groaih and Lupvovcment. — The development of 
tlie school system toward a more perfect system was slow. 
Like all progress in human arrangements, it has required a 
semi-centennial season to perfect the germ into blossoms and 
fruit. The distance between the blade, the ear, and the 
full corn in the ear, is oftener measured by centuries than by 
years. But though of slow growth, our public schools have 
nuide progress in the right direction. The rough and rude 
houses, with slab seats, diminutive windows, and yawning 



76 HISTOKY OF HOPKIXTOX, 



fireplaces, have given way to elegant edifices, suiTonnded 
with beautiful and ample play grounds, and internally con- 
veniently and tastefully seated with chairs and desks, and 
walls decorated with maps, charts, and ornamental pictures, 
and presiding over all is the teacher rather than the school- 
master. 

Their Present Condition. — The present condition of our 
Public Schools is most promising. With some three or fouj- 
exceptions, the school hosues are large, commodious, and 
well arranged inside, with modern improvements, surrounded 
without with ample playgrounds. The curriculum of study 
is enlarged, and the methods and manner of teaching greatly 
improved. Teachers of more enlarged and thorough educa- 
tion ard now employed. The graded schools are attaining a 
deserved reputation for good order, mild but firm discipline, 
thoroughness in class recitations. Corporal punishment is 
seldom resorted to ] and those schools which ha\e entirely 
dispensed with it, rank highest for good order and behavior 
of the pupils. 

The important position our Public Schools occupy, and 
their relation to the best interests of community, are being 
better understood and appreciated. The curriculum of study 
is becoming more comprehensive, and the examination (4" 
teachers now embraces a most thorough series of written 
questions upon nearly all branches of an academic course ; 
while school officers are made to feel the responsibility of 
their duties. It is not too much to say, that our schools are 
taking high rank among the public schools of the State. 
And while there is a spirit of conservatism among us, that 
may retard for a while, yet the public sentiment of a large 
majority is towards the highest possible attainment, the 
nearest approximation towards the perfect. 

The Subject of Sapervision. — Schools, like every other 
organization, need to be supervised; and few more responsi- 



HISTORY OF HOPKIXTOX. 77 

Me <liities are devolved upon a town, than in seleeting its 
school supervisors. They should be men or women (qualified, 
either by nature or education, for that important position. 
School supervision should be parental rather than dictatorial. 
The entrance to the teacher's position should be carefully 
guard(Hl by the supervisors of our schools, so that none but 
those who are com})etent be permitted to sit at the teacher's 
desk. For, let it not be forgotten, that every teacher will 
daguerrotype himself more or less on his pupils. His man- 
ner, habit, demeenor, and method of teaching, AVill l)e re- 
produced in the scholar. Hence a most strict examination 
of all candidates for teaching, both as respects their literary 
attainments, their demeanor, their habits of thought, their 
methods of instruction, their system of discipline, should be 
instituted. 

So also each school should be most carefully yet tenderly 
supervised, and should be made to feel that it is ever under 
the watchful eye of the School Committee. Hence the wis- 
dom of that statute that makes it imperative upon School 
Committees to make rules and regulations for the attendance 
and classification of the ])upils, for the introduction and use 
of text books and works of reference, and for the instruc- 
tion, government, and discipline, of the public schools, and 
prescril)e the studies to be pursued therein, and under the 
direction of the School Commissioner. 

But a still farther supervision by the State seems to be 
necessary in order that our public schools may secure still 
greater advantages to the children of the State ; that is, 
such a supervision as will require a regular attendance for a 
certain length of time of all children within certain ages 
upon the instruction of our public schools. 

Thus, under the fostering care of the State, and the wise 
supervision of the town, through its school officers, may our 
public schools realize their fullest idea of an Alma Mater to 



78 HISTORY OF HOPKIXTO:?^. 

our children. 

School Libraries, Appiinttu!^ and other lustrunienfaJities. — 
There are two libraries in this town. The Manton Union 
Library-, of nearly 1,000 volunieS; at Hope Valley, seems 
not to be appreciated as fully as it might be, owing probably 
to its lack ot the works of modern authors. Tlu^ Ashaway 
Library and Heading Room Associatitm^ located at Ashaway, 
Plopkinton^ was organized by the adoption of a constitution, 
Nov. '5th, 1871, for the purpose of furnishing to the inhabi- 
tants of A»shaway and vicinity the advantages of such a 
library. The Association furnishes a Heading Room with 
the current periodicals free to all. The Library contains be- 
tween ()00 and 700 voluuics of the latest standard works. 
The Association also })rovide for the annual course of lec- 
tures. Doubtless one reason why libraries are not more 
patronized at the present day, may be in part accounted for 
by the universal Hooding of every community with newspa- 
per literature ; yet every community should have a lil>rarv 
well furnished with the nuist improved standar<l works, both 
ancient and modem. 

Academies. — In 1SJ8, the enterprising citizens of Potter 
Hill and Ashaway erected the first academical building in 
the town; in which a school was opened Dec. 1st, luider the 
supervision of Rev. J. AV. Morton as Principal, and Mrs. L. 
E. Coon as l?receptress, with other teachers as the school 
might require. In 1S():>, Prof. Alorton resigned his position, 
and was succeeded by Prof. H. C. Coon. In 1864, Prof. 
Coon and his accomplished ^ife resigne<l their position, and 
were succeeded by I'rof. A. A. Palmiter, who in 1866 
resio'ued his iiosition. and was succeeded bv Prof Amos C. 
Lewis, who in 1861), on }icct)unt of ill health, tendered his 
resignation. Thus closed the school work of Ilopkinton 
Academy, after a struggle of ten years against tinancial em- 
barrassments, and some want of experience in managing 



HISTORY OF HOPKINTOX. 79 

sucli institutions. With no endowment funds, and no aid 
from the public treasury, it had to suecuml> to an inevitabh' 
fate. Yet the school has done a nol)le work, and many of 
its students have taken hioflier and better stations iu life, and 
becoiuL' more useful, for its having been. Among those who 
have become somewhat noted, may be mentioned the name 
of Julia Crouch, author and public lecturer, and others, who 
perhaps are equally deserving of an honorable mention. 

But the days of Academies are ended, and Graded Schools 
have l»een born. In 1873, Districts No. 2 and 4 of Ho[»- 
kint(ui, and 8 of Westerly, resolved themselves into a Joint 
School District, for the purpose <»f establishing a Graded 
School, and the stockholders of Hopkintnn Academy gen- 
erously denoted their interest in it t(» said Joint District, for 
the above purpose. And in the Fall of 1873, was opened a 
Graded School in this Joint District, under the instruction 
of Prof, S. S. Scammel as Principal, and Miss Sarah E. 
Chester in the Intermediate Department, and Miss Emma 
E. Kenyon in the Primary Department. This Graded 
School now (1876) under the instructions of J A. Estee, 
his accomi»lislied wife, and Miss Emnui E. Kenyon, has 
attained a high reputation for good order and class recita- 
tions. Its future is full of promise. 

In this connection is deserving of mention the Graded 
School at Hope Valley. This school also has attained a 
deservedly high rank. Under its present corps of teachers, 
Prof. E. F. Lanphear as Principal, and Mrs. Joanna Dock- 
rey in the Intermediate, and Miss Hattie E. Frisbie in the 
Primary Department, this school is taking a high position. 
Its future also is full of promise. 

At Rockvile, there is a school of two o-rades. The Hiodier 
Department is under the instruction of Miss Sarah A. 
Hoxsie, and the Primary under the care of Miss Lillian 
Grav This school has onlv been o-raded for the last term, 



80 HISTORY OF hopki:nto:n'. 

and therefore has not had tlie opportunity of time as yet 
which the other graded schools have had. It however 
affords sufficient evidence of the utility of the arrano^ements. 

The other schools, being- schools of only one grade, give 
proof that the cause of education in our public schools is 
making progress in the right direction. 

In conclusion, the cause of education, and especially as it 
stands connected ^vitli our Public Schools, is advancing. 
And the citizens of Hoi)kinton may congratulate themselves 
that its Common Schools will rank not inferior to others of 
this State, at the Centennial Exhi))ition. 

S. S. GRISWOLI), Supt. of Pnblk Schools. 

HoPKiXTOX, March, 1876." 



SECTION 10. 



SECRET SOCIETIES. 



Thp:se ixsTiTUTroNs seem to have enjoyed a prosperous 
existence, and it is to he jiresiimed they haA'e exerted a 
beneficial influence on the community as well as on their 
several memberships. 

MECHANICS LODGE, No. 14, I. (). (). F.-This lodgc was insti- 
tuted July 12, 1849, in the adjoining town of Richmond. 
In July, 1859, its location was removed to this town. In 
1874, this lodge built a commodious, snbvStantial building in 
the village of Hope Valley, which is an ornament to that 
portion of the town and an evidence of the energj^ and zeal 
of its members. The low er part of the building is occupied 
for stores. The upper part, by a large and elegant liall, 
most tastefully and beautifully finished and furnished for the 
use of the lodge. This lodge has had a live working mem- 
l)ersliip for more than a quarter of a century and may now 
fairly be regarded as one of our permanent institutions. Its 
present membership is about eighty. 

NiANTic ENCAMPMENT, No. 7, I. O. o. F.-Was instituted 
March 22, 1869, in the village of Hope Valley. Present 
membership, twenty. 
11 



82 HISTOKT OF HOPKINTOX. 



CHARlTYLODGENo. 33, A. F. & A. M.— Was instituted at the 
village of Looustville, November 27, 1865, and now nuni - 
bers eifflitv-nine members. 

FRANKLIN ROYAL ARCH CHAPTER— Was instituted at Hoi)e 
Valley on the 10th day of March 1868, with twenty charter 
members. Present membership forty-nine. 

ROGER WILLIAMS LODGE, No. 2, 1. O. G. T.-Was instituted at 
Ashaway March 10, 1866, and for more than ten years has 
liad an average membership of about sixty. It now has 
seventy-one members and is doing good work in inducing 
our youth to take the pledge of total abstinence from the use 
of alcoholic beverages. 

HOPE LODGE, No. 9, 1. O. G. T.— AVas instituted Xov. 19, 1866, 
in the village of Locustville, with forty-four charter miMu- 
bers, half of whom were ladies. Since its institution it has 
lield weekly meetings for the advancement of its main 
object, viz : temperance. Its present membership is sixty- 
five. 

HOWARD TEMPLE OF HONOR, No. 31-Of Ashaway, was in- 
stituted January 15, 1874, and now, after an existence of 
two and a half years has sixty -five members, more than two- 
thirds of whom were formerly addicted to the use of strong 
drink. These men are now staunch temperance members, 
whose influence is in favor of temperance and sobriety. 
Connected with this temple is a Social Temple, in wliicli 
ladies as well as gentlemen are admitted to membership. It 
has thirtv-four meml>ers. 



SECTION 11. 



BIOGRAPHICAL. 



The Bahcock's. — Among the woitliy inhabitants of the 
town, and one tliat deserves honorable mention, was Daniel 
Habcock. He was the son of Oliver, of Xortli 8tonino-ton, 
("onn., and was born in that town August 31st, 1762. His 
father died when he was nine years of age and lie was left 
to the care of his eldest l)rother, Joshua. At the age of 
fourteen, a eentury ago this Centennial year, he was appren- 
ticed for seven years, then the shortest time allowed for 
that i)urpose, to Elder, also called Dr. Henry Clarke, then 
operating Ferry's Iron 'Works, now "Woodville. During his 
apprenticeship, the war of the revolution broke out, and at the 
age of fourteen he enlisted as a recruit to serve when wanted. 
When Fort Griswold, in Groton, was beseiged, ^l\. Babcock 
and his company started to assist the garrison, but on amv- 
ing at Mystic, and having been told that the garrison had, 
after a dreadful slaughter, suiTendered, he and his comrades 
"wept like children" at not being a))le to render assistance. 
And who could have refrained from weeping and shedding 
tears of holy indignation at the merciless cruelty inflicted on 
those noble martyrs to liberty. Not being further called 
into active service, he returned and served out his appren- 



84 HISTORY OF HOPKINTOX. 

ticeship. At the age of nineteen, he commenced a Chris- 
tian life and connected himself with the First Sev^enth Day 
Baptist Church, in Hopkinton. When in his twenty-second 
year, he courted and married Constant I*otter, daughter of 
Georo-e, of Potter Hill. Early in 1784, he established a 
shop where the Potter Hill stone mill now stands. Here he 
worked at his trade for about five years, living in the house 
now^ occupied by Gen. William Potter. In 1790, he bought 
the 'Tolly'' Thomas Wells place 5 the red house corner, 
Avhere now is the residence of Horace Crandall, and moved 
there. In 1793, he hired Spaulding's Iron Works, and 
operated them about two years. In 1795, he returned to his 
home in Hopkinton and worked his farm in connection with 
his trade. In that red house on the corner, known as Bab- 
cock's corner, he continued to reside until his death in Sep- 
tember, 1846, aged eighty-four years. Few mem are better 
remembered than Daniel Babcock, and few, if any, deserves 
more honoraT)le mention as a manly citizen and a Christian. 
He served his veneration faithfullv. For manv years he 
filled the most important offices, conferred upon him by the 
gift of the people ; all of which duties he performed con- 
scientiously and to the satisfaction of his constituency. For 
more than sixty years he served as deacon. His life was one 
continual round of service to the people, and his house, like 
his heart, open to all ; a home for the friendless, a refuge 
for the outcast and weary. His fireside and table were a 
cheerful welcome to the traveler. His industry, genius, 
wisdom and integrity lived as a noble example to all who 
knew him. Being an officer when Thomas Mound, the last 
man hung in this county if not in this State, was arrested, 
he confined him in a room in liis house during a part of the 
trial, and until he was taken to '^ Little Rest." The room 
in which Mound was confined was ever after called the 
'Mail." Mr. Babcock was the father of 



HISTORY OF HOPKIXTOX. 85 

Daniel, Jr Born December 1(3, 1784 

Beti^ey '* 1786 or 1787 

Jacob D " Jauuary 20, 1780 

Nancy '' May 9, 1791 

George F " 179.3 

Jacob D. Babcock was born Jannary 20th 1789. l)urini>' 
his chihlhood and early manhood, he was in poor healtli and 
not able to do mnch mannal labor, bnt was occnpied in 
school and mnsic teachinij from his sixteenth vear until he 
became of age in 1810, when he went to learn a trade, for 
four years, at Coventry, as machinist. In 1812, (u- in about 
two years from commencing his trade, he went to Massachu- 
setts to set ap some machines made at the Coventry shop. 
There he fell in with a Mr. Pert, who engaged him to go 
to Schenectady, X. Y. then called ^'away west", and estab- 
lish a shop for the manufacture of machinery. Shortly after 
establishing there, the war of 1812 broke out and business 
])econiing very poor he enlisted in Capt. Harding's com})any, 
^^to go when called," but was never called into the field. 
He remained at Schenectady until 1820, meanwhile conduct- 
ing his affairs as the depression of the times would admit. 
He made accpiaintance with the prominent men of the town 
and vicinity, among whom was the venerable Dr. Eliphalet 
Nott, President of Union College, who was a warm personal 
friend of his. He constructed the first town clock in the 
city, which remained in use on the old Dutch Reformed 
church until about 1860, when the old edifice fell before the 
march of improvement. In 1820, having built machinery 
for a cotton mill in Cornwall, Orange county, he went there 
to erect and start it and was induced to remain as superin- 
tendent of the mill. The mill was enlaro-ed to double its 
original capacity and was tolerably successful under his care. 
April 19, 1824, he was married to Elizabeth Almy, daughter 
of Capt. Peleg Almy, of Portsmouth of tins State, an<l re- 



8(> HISTOPA' or HOPKIIVTOX, 



turned to Cornwall and remained till 1828 (Harriet E. born 
Mareli 2, 1826) when lie purchased lialf tlie property now 
called the Ashawav mill, and returned to liis native 8tate^ 
and in company with 3[r. Isaac Cundall commence(l custom 
carding'; also running a o-rist inill until 1831, when they 
divided the property, each taking one half. Soon after, he 
bought the property now called l^ethel^ and <-onverted it 
into a wo(den factory. 

Now comnienced a series of great trials. The temper- 
ance and anti-slavery movenients began to gain attention. 
In Boston and gome other ])laceK the subjects were being 
agitated, and societies ojiposed to the use of alc(di(dic drinks, 
and slavery, had been organized. Capt. Lester Crandall, 
and My. I. Cunda-11, both teetotallert*, suggested that an ad- 
dress be given upon the subject of temperance, by Kev. 
Phineas Crandall. This was like the throwing of a boml)- 
shell, and great excitement prevniled. .Mr. Jairus Crandall 
and Mr. Benjamin Totter, being at work in the wheel-pit of 
Mr. J. Ba))cock's mill, had a irai-tu discussion, standing up 
to their knees in ro/r/ water ; and but for the cw;//>// effects 
of the cold water, the discussion must liave burst into a 
Hanie. 

According to the luiiveisal practice oC the day, Mr. Bab- 
cock had furnished the "gvog," on the occasion of a W(n-king 
gatheriuiz-. At diuiii'r. just as ihey were taking an appetiz- 
ing horn, Jairus imjuired of Jacob : "What do you 
think of this new, temperance (piestion ?*' Jacob replied 
that it was a good notion and ought to go forward ; and that 
rum was a curse and evil.'' Jairus immediately said : 
" What sav you Jacob ? Let's go down and join.'' Jacol) 
replied that if he was serious in the proposal, and the sub- 
ject ought to be looked upon seriously, he would agree to do 
so. " AVhat say you, Ben ?" was the next inquiry. Ben, 
with his hand on the irlass of ruin that had been furnished 



Hisroiir OF HOPKiXTox. 87 

him, replied, sam3\vliat liesitatiiiirly, "he'd afj^rei' to it.*' "Let's 
commence right here now," said Jacol), to Mhi( li Jainis 
assented; but Ben said: "Olil let's drink u[i what's in tlie 
decanter, first;" uhieh was agreed to with the understanding 
that they should never drink any more from tliat time. Thus 
was made, probably, the first tem})erance compact in that 
place, which soon took the name of ''IVunjK'rance "S'allev.'' 
The three worthies. Jacob l^abcock, Jairus (,'randall an<l 
Benjamin Potter deserve to be held in honored remembrance 
for tliei]- zeal and courage. Tliough these men made .*; 
pledge between them, they were not the iij-st teetotallers. 
]\[r. Cundall had not used liquor since attaining his major- 
ity and had never in his house fostered the custom of soci- 
ety of "setting it on" as it was called. Lester Crandall 
likewise luul been a teetotaller for years and like ^Tr. Cun- 
dall, consistent. There were others, perhaps two or three, 
conscientiously opposed to the use of liquors as a l>everaij-e : 
but all three were held by the mass of society as odd, stingv 
and fanatical, while they were often assailed for preaching 
heresies. But that commenced the temjieranee reform in 
this place. The three worthies had not passed light juda"- 
ment upon the evil, and they were not the men to turn back. 
A temperance speaker was engaged and a search was com- 
menced for a_place in which to give the lecture. The church 
doors were closed against the '^fanatics," as they were called. 
Acrimony and bitter vituperation was indulged in. Tax- 
payers objected to the school h«:/use being used for a, temper- 
ance lecture. To such a feeling was the excitement car- 
ried, that it was thought the church would act in a body 
against any of its members giving aid to the new move- 
ment. At last Mr. Cundall, of Quaker origin, opened his 
bouse for the lecture. Quite a number signed the pledge 
that evening. Among the number were Isaac Cundall, 
Lester Crandall, Maxson Johnson, Benjamin Potter, Jacob 



88 HISTORY OF HOPKINTOX 



1). Babcock and Jairus (,'raiulall. It is said that some were 
afraid of receiving' injury Avliile returning home from the 
meeting, and that inutterinirs, hootinofs, threats of rotten 
egg^;, tar and feathers^ ete.^ were heard from the crowd out- 
side^ and yet no violence was actually done^ hut those who 
attended the lecture were marked for the ridicule and jest of 
the neighborhood. The discussion took the form of a con- 
troversy and the talkers of the hand had to take the blows. 
^Ir. Babcock, |xn'haps the principal talker of the number^ 
o-ifted with an easier How of words than the most of the 
others^ being a merchant, and his store the place where the 
news was summed up and compared during the evenings^ 
and at other leisure times, he fell into the discussicms the 
oftenest. Hence he became the ol)ject towards whom the 
opposite party. directe<l their fury, and it was a hard burden 
to bear. 

About tliis time Mr. l^abcock and Sally Knowles com- 
menced a Sabbath school, mucli against the judgment of 
the church and its i)astor. 

In close connection with the temperance excitement, 
another, of eipial if not gr.'ater magnitude, Avas begun — the 
anti-slavery agitation. Mr. Babcock was among the first to 
enlist in the cause of freedom. He l)ecanie an abolitionist, 
embracing that heresv of heresies. Mr. Babcock was not 
only ostracized by his friends (even by many of those who 
were with him in the temperance reform) l)nt most terrible 
opposition and threatened violence surrounded him. In 
1834, he was nearly as much occupied with the discussion 
of anti-slavery matters as with his business ; he bore the 
standard of liberty often Avhen he knew no hdlowers, and, 
persistenth* too, when he expected the ride to Skimminton 
and the coat of tar and feathers. Often he passed sleepless 
nights in fear for his personal safety or for the security and 
sanctity of his property. One night he left his liome late 



HISTORY OF HOPKIXTOX. 89 

alter hearing threats against him, and went np to his 
father's house, and called him from his sleep, to counsel 
with him upon the matter, hardly daring to return to his own 
house when his interview was ended. When he separated 
from his father that night, he said he wanted almost to hid 
him and his family farewell, for he didn't know that he felt 
sure of seeing him again. If there was no real danger the 
excitement and threats h© heard certainly justified his fears. 
His name was the jest of the people, and, as if to add insult 
to mockery, opprobrious names were given to the place 
where he lived, such as "Jacob's Huddle," '^Jacob's Hollow," 
''Mecca," ''Scpiaw Hollow," and ''Temperance Hollow." 
The last was changed to "Temperance Valley," and be- 
came a term of honor. 

Through the zeal and influence of Mr. Babcock, the anti- 
slavery cause gained a strong hold in the vicinity. An 
underground railroad was laid out through the place and a 
depot was established at the house of Mr. Babcock, which 
did a thriving business ; and the "Depot ]\[asttM'," "Uncle 
Jacob," became widely known as a friend of humanitv. 
For seven years in succession, he accepted the- nomination 
iioY Lieutenant-Governor from the Liberty and Free Soil 
party, not expecting, however, to be elected, l>ut solely to 
aid the cause. For, like all reformers, he stood far in ad- 
vance of the times. Yet, like every true reformer, he had faith 
that the great principles of human right and liberty would one 
day triumph. In 1S5G, he was a member of the State 
Republican convention under the first national call, and bv 
it was made chairman of the State's delegation to the First 
Republican National Convention in Philadelphia, June 17, 
1856. He supported Fremont, after some hesitation, in the 
convention and at the polls But his principles can-ied this 
town though the victory came not. Hopkinton was the ban- 
ner town for "Fremont and Freedom." Then when in 1860, 
12 



90 HISTORY OF HOPKIXTOX. 

amid the mutterings of the oligarcliy, the people, convinced 
of the mighty power and gross wrong of slavery, and in 
spite of the threats from beyond i'Mason and Dixon's 
line triumphantly placed Lincoln in the way of the advance 
of that evil, he believed that victory w^as near, he said : 
^'If I can only live to see slavery abolished, I shall feel 
as if I had not lived in vain." Of course, tlie question of 
union or disunion now was first, bi»t close behind that stood 
the slavery (piestion ; he claimed then that as the seceded 
States had staked their existence on that institution, by it 
the}^ should stand or fall, and his hope was that by some 
measure slavery could come to be in the way of conducting 
the war, so that its abolishment would become a necessity. 
When therefore Lincoln issued the emancipation proclamation 
he felt that in that instrument the great desire of his life had 
been accomplished, and his work done. On the memorable 
night of January 1st, 1863, a crowd assembled around the 
residence of Mr. Babcock to congratulate him in connection 
with the triumph that had ensued. Awakened, he arose, 
dressed hastily, and in response said : " Hear ye ! Hear 
3'e ! Hear ye ! Proclaim liberty throughout the land to all 
the inhabitants thereof. Thou shalt loose the bonds of them 
that labor under the heavy bm'dens. Break every yoke and 
let the oppressed go forth. My jo}' is that I have lived to 
see the end of slavery. It is a surprise to me. I never 
until lately have expected to see it, and now I am almost 
amazed at the reality of it. I can leave the rest to you 
vounffer men." But he lived to ioin in the second victorv 
of the Republican party ; to mourn with one hundred mil- 
lions of people the death of the greatest president of the 
republic, and to see the final success of the union cause by 
the surrender at Appomattox. He died of apoplexy June 
17, 1867, at the age of seventy-eight years, fully credited 
with the glory he won in the days when it was worth one's 



HISTORY OF HOrKIXTOX. 91 

life to speak in favor of the reforms he fostered. His house 
liad loiio- been known as the home of eharitv and the gather- 
ing place of good men. Those who knew him will remem- 
ber him as a true man ; keen of appreciation, of fine sensi- 
bilities, of good judgement and of l)road intelligence, a 
friend of progress, a lover of republican institutions and a 
worthy son of his worthy father. 

Wells Family. — In a pamphlet written by Albert 
Wells, of Xew York, may be found the following history of 
the Wells family : 

The name of Welles was iirst obtained in Kno'land, durinc: 
the reign of William the Contpieror, who gave to one of his 
Knights the name of llichardus de Welles, whose business 
was to see that the King's household was supplied with bread. 
From this source was derived the name of Welles. The first 
mention made of the name in this country, was in the seven- 
teenth century. 

According to this historical record, the family of Wells 
trace their lineal descent from one Xathaniel Wells, a wealthy 
shipbuilder of London who left England to save his prop- 
erty from confiscation and himself from imprisonment on ac- 
count of his Puritanic opinions. From this ancestry we can 
trace the descendants of Thomas V. Wells and Edward 
AVells to the sixth generation. They purchased a tract of 
over 400 acres of land of the NaiTagansett Indians and made 
settlement in the wilderness which they called WellstQwn, 
situated about a mile from Bethel crossing over the Ashaway 
river, on the little bridge known as Wellstown bridge. 
There are many incidents connected with the various mem- 
l)ers of this farnilv. Amon"- them recorded is one of Mrs. 
Sylvia Wells, sister of Mr. Russell Wells, whose family had 
moved to Ohio. She returned to this country on horseback 
to visit her relatives, and as she was about to return to her 
home in Ohio, and wishing to carry back something as a 



92 HISTORY OF HOPKIXTOX. 

memento of lier old. homestead, she selected the family look- 
ing glass, taking it with her oii horseback; snch a feat would 
be among the impossibilities of the present day. Another 
incident connected with this renowned family is worthy of 
record as showing the power of that tender passion which is 
so much the the main-spring of all human conduct. The 
females of this family, of that day, are said to l)e very beau- 
tiful, which may account for their having so many suitors. 
Mr. Thompson Wells had two daughters, named after his 
sisters, Sally and Lois. He built the house at Wellstown 
now owned and occupied by Mr. James Crandall. Sallv 
Wells was courted l)y Mr. Beriali Wells, of Lenox, Mass., 
a young man of splendid address and good manners. His 
attachment for her at first was very ardent and was fully 
reciprocated b}^ Sally. As time sped on, a year passed 
without his visiting her. Not hearing anything from him, 
she received a proposal from another lover, Mr. Linden 
Fuller, a teacher in the Paweatuck academy, from Wood- 
stock, Conn. The result of their short courtship was an en- 
casement of marriao'e, tho time was fixed for its solemniza- 
tion, and the wedding garments were prepared. After all 
this arrangement had been made, and the time drew near 
when they should be made one, who should make his ap- 
pearance in Wellstown but Beriah Wells, who had come 
down for the express purpose of renewing his engagement 
with his loving Sally, and taking her to Massachusetts, as 
Mrs. Beriali Wells. Here was a dilemma, Sally engaged 
to Fuller, wedding day near at hand, while the fact was, 
that she really loved Wells best; how was this matter to be 
settled f Sally's father consulted with his friends, and after 
much deliberation, it was thought best that these young 
men should be informed as to how matters and things stood ; 
and it was finally agreed among the several parties, that the 
ladv should meet the vouni:^ men with several witnesses, 



HISTORY OF H0PK1^'T0X. 93 

and there decide wliicli slioiild have her for a wife. They 
met. Sheffiekl "Wells asked 'Sally, in the pressence of all, 
Mdiat her choice was. Without hesitation she replied: 
^'Beriah AVells," he repeated the question three times, and 
she as many times answered as at the first. Mr. Fuller's 
appearance betrayed the deep ag'itation under which he was 
laboring in hearing her decision rendered ; and tradition 
says that he fainted, but his bearing towards her and all 
present was that of a nature which told well, that Linden 
Fuller was a true gentleman. After a short interval Mr. 
Beriah Wells came forward, and stated that, under all cir- 
cumstances he could not marry ]Miss Wells; he admitted 
that it was his fault in not visitino- or communicating witli 
her during the year that had passed, and as they had the 
time fixed for her marriage with Mr. Fuller, he feared the 
circumstances of the case would render his marriage with her 
an unhappy life for each of them. Here was a worse dilemma, 
Sallv's feeliniifs mav be better imagined than described. 

Fuller could not now feellike marrying her. So they all 
parted. Fuller at once dismissed his school at Pawca- 
tuck, and went to his home in Woodstock. Two weeks 
passed away, and Sally's father sent one of liis neighbors to 
Connecticut with instructions that he must not return with- 
out bringing Linden Fuller. The messenger obeyed the 
instructions, returning the next day. Mr. Wells spent a 
long time with him, and finally convinced him that it would 
be for his and his daughter's happiness, as well as that of 
the family, that they should be married. Beriah Wells was 
sent for. Upon his arrival, he consented at once that he 
and Lois, Sally's sister, should stand up with them at the 
wedding, and that very evening Linden and Sally were 
made one. The wedding passed off" finely, Fuller and Wells 
treating each other in the kindest manner. 

A few more weeks rolled away, and there was another 



94 HISTORY OF nOFKlHTO'^. 

Aveddiiig at Wellstown. The same company assembled 
again, the only difference being in the fact that now Beiiah 
Wells was bridegroom and Lois the bride 5 Linden Fuller 
groomsman and his cliarming wife, Sally, bridesmaid. 
''And in fact/' Beriah Avould often often say afterwards, 
"that Lois w'as always his choice.'' 

The above verifies tlie truthfulness of the old saying, 
"the course of true love never runs smooth.'' 

The historian on this occasion, is indebted for an account 
of the above incident, as well as for several other items of 
this paper, to letters from Ashaway, published in the Xarra- 
gansett Weeldij over the signature of "S." 

It ought to be mentioned that this family was noted for 
its musical talents, which have been passed down even to the 
present generation. One of their number was a manufac- 
turer of mnsicnl instruments. 



SECTION 12 



POPULATION. 



Previous to the year 1774, tlie author of this record ha^J 
not been able to find any census of tlie population of the 
town. In 
1774 it was 1,808. 

1776 " 1,845 Increase in two yeari^- .- . 37. 

1782 '^ 1,735 Decrease " six " 110. 

1790 " 2,462 Increase '' eight " . . - - 727. 

1800 '' 2,21 Q Decrease '^ ten " 186. 

1810 '' 1,774 '' 'Men '' 502. 

1820 '' 1,821 Increase '^ ten ^' .... 47. 

1830 " 1,777 Decrease " ten ^' 44. 

1840 '' 1,726 '' 'Men " 51. 

1850 '' 2,477 Increase '' ten " ... - 751. 

1860 '' 2,738 " 'Men " ....261. 

1865 " 2,512 Decrease " five '' ... .226. 

1870 '' 2,682 Increase " five " 170- 

From the above table we find that the population of the 
town increased in ninety-six years eight hundred and sca'- 
enty-four persons. 



APPENDIX. 



The followiniz: was received too late to he inserted in 
section eight, under the head of "Industrial:" 

Ashawcuj Savings Bank. — This bank was establishe<l 
!«iometinle during 1871, as the first report relative to the de- 
posits was made in December of that year. The total amount 
of the deposits July 4th, 1876, was #78,968.40. 



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